How farmers combat voles: crop protection methods

Voles are herbivorous rodents belonging to the Cricetidae family. Due to their high fecundity, they pose a serious threat to agricultural lands, gardens, and pastures. In the agricultural sector, the meadow, pine, and steppe voles present the greatest challenge. Signs of their presence include ring-barked tree trunks, damaged root systems, gnawing marks at the base of plants, small burrows, visible runways in the grass, and patches of dead grass.

To control these pests, a comprehensive approach based on integrated plant protection, tailored to specific vole species, is applied. The main methods include:

— Agrotechnical practices: modification of the agricultural environment to reduce the site's attractiveness to rodents, installation of wire fences buried at least 6 inches (about 15 cm) deep for orchards, and selection of damage-resistant plant cultivars.

— Biological control: attracting predators (specifically, birds through the installation of perches and owl boxes), maintaining ecosystem diversity, and avoiding pesticides hazardous to natural enemies.

— Trapping: effective for localized infestations and sensitive areas. Peanut butter, apple slices, seed, and oatmeal are used as bait. Live-trapped voles should be relocated at least half a mile away from the farm.

— Rodenticides: toxic baits are used with caution and exclusively in cases of severe infestations, as they are toxic to pets and livestock animals. They are deployed in tamper-resistant bait stations.

Rodent control is most effective in autumn and winter, when food supplies are limited and populations are concentrated in small areas. Voles are most active at dawn and dusk, although they may be active day and night under a dense cover. Although rodents can carry diseases, the risk of transmitting infections to humans is relatively low, yet hygiene must be observed when handling them. For an accurate assessment of infestation, farmers can contact local specialists or pest control services.