Rodent · Moderate risk
Meadow Vole
The meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) is a small rodent that digs shallow runways in lawns and gardens. Less dangerous than the rat, it can still do serious damage to plant roots, lawns and vegetable crops. It breeds so fast that populations can explode in a single season.
9 to 12.5 cm · Dark brown
§1Distinctive features
How to identify it
A small, stocky rodent, 9 to 12.5 cm long, with a short tail of 3.5 to 6.5 cm. Dark brown fur on the back, grey on the belly. Rounded snout, short ears almost hidden in the fur. Do not confuse it with the deer mouse, which is slimmer, with large black eyes and a tail as long as its body.
§2Habitat
Where to find it
It lives in meadows, lawns, gardens and fields. It digs shallow burrows linked by runways visible in the grass. It can get into basements in the fall. It does not hibernate: all winter long, it moves around and feeds under the snow, where it keeps extending its runways and gnawing bark.
§3Reproduction
Lifecycle
Left alone, a population can grow very quickly during the breeding season.
§4What to look out for
Signs of infestation
- Runways 3 to 5 cm wide in short grass
- Burrow entrances in the lawn
- Damage to plant and vegetable roots
- Bark gnawed at the base of trees and shrubs in winter
§5Why act fast
Risks
- Significant damage to lawns, gardens and crops
- Bark gnawed on fruit trees (it can kill them)
- Droppings and parasites in the vegetable garden and flower beds
- Sunken spots, holes and dead patches in the lawn and flower beds
§6Prevention
How to avoid it
- Keep the lawn mowed short
- Protect fruit trees with mesh at least 45 cm high, buried 5 cm deep
- Remove leaf piles and dense vegetation
- Inspect the perimeter of the house regularly in the fall
§7Pro method
How MW works
Inspection
Locating infested areas and assessment.
Preparation
Customized plan · steps to take before the visit.
Treatment
Traps and secured bait stations along runways and burrow entrances, with registered rodenticides.
Follow-up
Control visit · written guarantee offered depending on the treatment chosen.
§8Your questions answered
Frequently asked questions
How can I confirm I have voles?
Can cats control voles?
Should I call a professional?
The meadow vole digs its runways under the lawn and attacks the roots and bark of young trees. It is what people in Quebec commonly call a field mouse, and the treatment is the same. Properties bordering a field or woods are the hardest hit, which explains the number of calls on the outskirts of Granby, Sherbrooke, Farnham and Acton Vale.
React quickly, sleep well.
The longer the infestation lasts, the more expensive it becomes.
