What is a vole?

Voles are rodents measuring between 4 and 8 1/2 inches long. Their color varies from gray to brown, and they weigh between 4/5 ounce and 3 ounces. Their bodies are fat, their eyes and ears are small, and their faces contain no sharp features.

Voles also have short legs and tails (with the exception of the long-tailed vole). Other names for voles include pine, meadow or field mice.

Voles damage trees by girdling them, whether they are seedlings or mature trees, doing most of their damage in greenbelts, orchards and forests. They sometimes build runways through lawns and cause damage to field crops as well.