Getting Rid of Voles and Gophers

If you are seeing significant damage in the form of holes, raised mounds, and strange runways, it’s likely voles or gophers wreaking havoc on your lawn.

Given that Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatchewan are primarily prairie land, these kinds of pests are common nuisances in our line of work.

This makes identifying which pests you have and how to treat them can be done in a single afternoon.

What Are The Signs Of Vole Or Gopher Damage?

These pests often go unnoticed during the winter, while all the damage they cause lies hidden under the snow. 

Unfortunately, this leads to a noticeable decline in the health of your trees, shrubs and greenery while they quite literally enjoy the “fruits of your labour”.

Thankfully, spring is the perfect time to be on the lookout.

• Voles – Freshly clipped grass or ‘runways’ leading to small, very round open holes. Fruit that has been nibbled on. Damaged sprinklers, pipes or underground wiring.

• Gophers – Crescent or horseshoe-shaped mounds of soil or holes surrounded by a clipped band of vegetation or even completely ripped out plants.

Regardless of which type of pest you have, there is one thing they both have in common–they prefer established gardens. 

Once you can confirm that gophers or voles are present in your yard, you will need to use a combination of preventative measures and treatment options to remove them.

How To Get Rid Of Gophers And Voles

Voles and gophers tend to be selective about the location of their home base. So if they’ve chosen your yard, it indicates that you’ve got the right mix of soil quality and flourishing plants. 

Sure that one or more of these animals is to blame for your yard’s deterioration? Take action using these simple steps.

First of all, you want to make your yard less appealing. This doesn’t mean you have to skimp entirely on your plants. Simply cutting down on dense vegetation is an excellent first step.

Certain kinds of plants have also been shown to discourage or deter these pests. The right type of plant barrier is typically safe for children and pets, plus it makes a colourful addition to your yard.

For gophers, you may want to plant in raised garden beds or make “gopher baskets” from netted material to house and protect young plants and bulbs.

Ready-made gopher barriers are also available in the form of baskets that can be placed around plants to protect them from being eaten.

Other Measures You Can Take to Keep Voles and Gophers Out

• Plant dense shrubbery (such as junipers) to interrupt the gophers’ line of sight to their burrow. They prefer flat, open areas so they can see their entrances at all times.

• Ensure fencing goes deeper than the average gopher tunnel, usually about six to 12 inches below the surface for feeding burrows (although sometimes nests can go as deep as six feet). 

• Mulch is known to help deter rodents by making it harder to dig out plants.

• Keep lawns and gardens areas trimmed. Tallgrass provides the perfect hiding spot for voles, so trimming back grass is a great way to deter them.

• Dig and place specialized wire mesh around vulnerable trees and shrubs. The mesh should be sunk at least three inches below the surface and extended two to three inches above.
  
• Book an appointment for a rodent removal service

What To Do After You Think Your Problem Has Been Solved

It is important to knock down soil mounds and clear garden debris during and after a successful treatment so that new activity is easy to spot.

If you’re handling this problem independently, management will likely be ongoing and may require repeated efforts to keep these critters out.

Tackling a mole, vole, or gopher infestation can be a massive undertaking. For additional support in implementing any of these at-home pest control methods or for more information on our rodent baiting program, give us a call at 877-755-2726. 

With over 45 years of experience in residential pest control, we are experts at eliminating your toughest rodent infestations.