Asked on Jul 28, 2016

Does anyone know a REALLY effective way to get rid of voles?

Joj8436077
by Joj8436077
They are tunneling through the lawn... eating the roots of my perennials... you name it. I've tried spray, poison, vibrating spikes and I'm seeing years of work eaten up in a summer. A cat is not possible because of my dog. Can anyone help?? Please???
  17 answers
  • Toni Allinder Toni Allinder on Jul 28, 2016
    Pet cat. Or shove a water hose down in the tunnel and turn it on full blast, sometime you can get it to pop out of another hole and trap it in a container.
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Jul 28, 2016
    You have voles.They are very difficult to get rid of. Try applying blood meal, pepper flakes, anything with a bad odor then seal the holes up with steel wool.
  • Judy Ackerman Judy Ackerman on Jul 29, 2016
    To get rid of the voles you need to get rid of their food source. Voles eat the grubs that are in your lawn. Get rid of the grubs and the Voles will leave.
  • Peggy Nice Peggy Nice on Jul 29, 2016
    Usually they are there because they are finding food/insects. You may need to treat the lawn for insects, first to take away their reason for being there.
  • Jo earp Jo earp on Jul 29, 2016
    My daddy always put moth balls in all the holes... got rid of his... hope this helps!
  • 1918135002 1918135002 on Jul 29, 2016
    I sprayed Miracle Grow down the hole(lots of it) they left after that.
  • Jay Jay on Jul 29, 2016
    Put a stick of Juicy Fruit gum in each hole.
  • Ljgordon Ljgordon on Jul 29, 2016
    Moles are carnivores, voles are vegetarians. They ate my sweet potatoes. I had to make a raised bed. good luck.
  • Chrystine Dimitry Chrystine Dimitry on Jul 30, 2016
    Get a cat, or a terrier. I haven't had a problem since I got the cat, actually.
  • Joj8436077 Joj8436077 on Jul 30, 2016
    OK... thank you all. I have a plan of attack....THIS IS WAR! ' 1. I'm using smoke bombs for voles in the really big holes (under my plants) 2. Mole & Vole poison (covered) on what looks like active runs 3. Half chewed Juicy Fruit gum on everything else. All my hard work is going on their table! I'm going to fight back! wish me luck.. I wish I had a cat but am allergic.
    • Missy Hatton Missy Hatton on Jul 25, 2020

      Have the same issue. Try dirty cat litter. No feces, just the smell of the urine seems to chase them off.

  • Okay- moles dig the tunnels to eat the grubs and earthworms and VOLES are eating your tender roots. Castor oil and Dawn dishwashing liquied mixed in a container and pour it down the holes and water your roots of plants.
  • Teresa Turner Teresa Turner on Aug 02, 2016
    Just dirty kitty litter in the holes, if you have a friend or family member that has a cat ask for the dirty litter for a couple weeks fill the holes it worked in our yard in NJ
  • Betty Betty on Aug 10, 2016
    I really emphasize! Once they become established, they multiply unbelievably fast. We have been fighting them for 3 years! They have invaded totally around the house and the landscaped strips on each side of our property lines. They are herbravoires and have made burrows and tunnels from where they eat the roots of plants and trees. They have eaten/killed large and small azaleas, heliore shrubs, junipers, hydrangeas, hostas. There is hope!! My husband found the best solution and we are seeing a remarkable decrease in activity - but you must be persistent if you have infestation like we had. Mix 3 ounces Castor Oil with 4 tablespoons liquid dishwasher soap in 1 gallon of water and pour or spray mixture into the vole holes and tunnels. This is the only method that has worked for us. After pouring a little down their holes, we carefully close it with soil. If we find holes again in a week or so, we do it again. We have to do it in sections b/c we have so much area to cover and there are knee issues, but we have seen progress in eliminating these little rodents! BTW, this is effective for moles as well. Good luck! Betty
  • Joj8436077 Joj8436077 on Aug 11, 2016
    Thanks so much..... I will add this to my tool box. I have poured pure castor oil down their little tunnels and it hasn't done much. My major challenge is that I live in the woods and they just move right in. I've seen their tunnels develop overnight!!!! It is very frustrating!!!
    • See 1 previous
    • Donald beans Donald beans on Mar 11, 2020

      I have a solution that might be disgusting to anyone who has this problem, but I use our feces to repel them. I must say this is an effective method. Where you see a hole or tunnel, insert a turd down the hole and cover it with soil. I know it sounds gross, but its effective. Trust me, I've tried everything!

  • Angela Wright Angela Wright on Sep 12, 2019

    Exlax dehydrates them and kills voles ...





  • Donald beans Donald beans on Mar 11, 2020

    Use human poop, we use it, they hate it!!

  • Jane Doe Jane Doe on Mar 11, 2020

    Yep, but no one will like the answer including myself. I have the same problem. My dad always used Seven on his lawn and never had a problem. Seven kills all the bugs which attract the voles. He told me about this several years ago and I cannot bring myself to use the product. Does anyone have any answers besides using Seven?