Have you had problems with voles in your crop fields or gardens? Many in the Willamette Valley face issues with these pesky animals, and aren’t quite sure how to solve them. Traditional methods of rodenticide often have broader ecological impacts, including killing larger predators that eat the dead or dying voles (which then results in fewer predators to naturally eat the pests, which only exacerbates the problem).

New research is investigating a few different methods of vole control. One option is to plant a “barrier crop” – something that you plant around the border of a garden or field to discourage the voles from coming in. This could be plants that they don’t like eating, which include things with tough or abrasive leaves, and usually a high silica content. It could also be something that disorients the vole’s sense of direction, which is largely scent-based. Plants like meadowfoam, peppermint, saffron, daffodils, or garlic can be used. 

Other methods include leaning into the natural predator-prey dynamic. Try putting up raptor poles or nesting sites (large nest boxes or platforms) to encourage more kestrels, hawks, and owls to use your space for hunting. If you have space, planting a hedgerow could help provide more habitat for larger predators like foxes. While perhaps not everyone’s favorite predator, snakes can also play a role in vole population control. Laying out flat boards for them to hide under could help encourage snakes (this may also draw in rodents… but luckily, right to the same place where the snakes are at!).

These are some of the ideas that were discussed at the recent Willamette Valley Vole Summit. You can read the full report from the summit below. Researchers with Oregon State University are also working on developing a vole management working group and website, so keep an eye out for that in the near future!