Vole Control in Beaverton Lawns and Gardens

A Townsend's vole, a short-tailed, round-bodied vole of the Pacific Northwest — A Townsend's vole. Short tail, round body, small ears.

Voles are mouse-sized rodents with short tails and round bodies that live in shallow tunnels and feed above ground. OSU Extension describes the damage as lots of small holes with runways connecting them through grass the voles have been eating. They also gnaw on shrubs and stems near their holes.

Willamette Valley farmers know voles well. OSU Extension reports that gray-tailed vole numbers can climb sharply every four to eight years before dropping off again. In town, lawns that border fields, tall grass or greenways are the ones most likely to have them.

Voles, Moles or Gophers?

People mix these up all the time. OSU Extension sorts them out like this:

Voles: small holes and runways in the grass, no real mounds
Moles: round, volcano-shaped mounds; they eat worms and grubs, not plants
Gophers: flat, fan-shaped mounds with the hole off to one side; they eat roots and bulbs

What Works

OSU Extension says mousetraps set at tunnel entrances can work, though voles breed so fast that control is hard. Baits exist but can hurt pets and other animals, so read the label and leave that call to a licensed provider. It also says gadgets and homemade remedies haven't been shown to work.

Cover matters too. Keeping the grass at the edges of the yard mowed and clearing dense ground cover away from beds leaves voles fewer places to hide.

When to Call

A few holes in one corner may be a do-it-yourself job. If the runways are spreading across the lawn or shrubs are getting chewed at the base, call and we'll connect you with a provider. This line takes vole calls. For moles or gophers, ask a company that handles them. If mice from the yard are getting into the house, see mouse control.

Questions People Ask

Do voles get into the house?

Rarely. They're outdoor rodents. Mice in the house are a separate job.

Will the lawn come back?

Usually, once the voles are under control. Reseed or patch the damaged spots when the weather allows.

Serving Central Beaverton, Cedar Hills and West Slope, Aloha, Hillsboro, Tigard, Cedar Mill, Bethany, Sexton Mountain and Murray Hill, Raleigh Hills and Garden Home, Lake Oswego.