Voles by Jo Smith

When the snow melts in the spring, you may notice tunneling throughout your lawn and damage to the bark of your trees and shrubs. This damage is likely caused by voles.  Voles are rodents similar to deer mice but stockier with short tails. They are 4-8 inches long and vary in color from brown to gray. There are three common types of voles in the Yampa Valley:   the montane vole, the long-tailed vole and the western heather vole.   Voles eat a variety of grasses, herbs, and crops. They eat bark on trees and shrubs, especially during the winter months. Voles do not hibernate. They are active day and night, constructing surface runways and underground tunnels with many burrow entrances. During the winter, the burrows are protected by snow. Voles have an amazing ability to reproduce. They have 3-6 young per litter and 3-12 litters per year breeding year round. Female voles become pregnant at 3 weeks of age. Vole population numbers generally peak every 3-5 years and it seems 2016 is a peak