Often confused with mice, voles are small rodents with chunky bodies that grow up to 7″ inches long. They have tiny eyes and small, furred ears that are partially hidden. Depending upon the species and level of maturity, voles may be gray or dark brown with a mixture of yellow or hazel-tipped hair that gives them a ‘peppery’ appearance. Observed closely, you’ll notice that voles have dark gray bellies with dense underfur. Their tails are bi-colored with tufted tips, and their feet are brown in color. As a locally owned vole removal service in Annapolis, we can identify them quickly.

Voles are prolific breeders with a short gestation period. A single female can give birth to 5-10 liters per year, and the newborns reach sexual maturity quickly. These opportunistic herbivores have continuously growing teeth that are well-adapted for gnawing plant’ roots and stems. Voles have big feet that they mostly use to create elaborate networks of shallow tunnels in gardens and lawns.

Are Voles Dangerous?

Voles are tiny innocent-looking pests that don’t seem dangerous but are actually highly destructive. Whether its a garden, yard, or orchard, voles dig tunnels. In Annapolis and the surrounding areas, they spend nearly all their time chewing the stems of young trees and ornamental plants, causing extensive damage.

Unfortunately, voles are active during the day and night, all year round. Because they don’t hibernate, these furry invaders continuously eat plants, including grass and seeds during winter, only for homeowners to discover the irreversible damage in the spring.

Voles can also become a problem for golf courses and ground covers. For instance, during winter, when snow protects them from potential predators, voles create surface ‘runways’ through the grass. As they feed in these runways, voles cause significant turf damage while chewing nearby vegetation down to the ground.

Because these opportunistic feeders rarely come in contact with humans, they are not considered a serious public health threat. However, it’s important to note that voles are known to carry parasites such as ticks and fleas. They can also spread diseases such as rabies, plague, and tularemia.