Chipmunks and Chipmunk Control - Part 5 of 9 - What Chipmunks Eat

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The typical chipmunk diet will consist of the grains, fruits, nuts, seeds, plants, and mushrooms specific to its living habitat. However, many chipmunks have also been known to eat insects and some may consume small or young animals and even young birds, lizards, and bird eggs.

All chipmunks that hibernate collect food in their cheek pouches and store it either in chambers designated for this purpose inside their burrow or in food caches that they have buried. The chipmunk requires this food source because unlike most hibernating animals, the chipmunk does not gain excessive weight through the summer and fall months to sustain it through the winter. The chipmunk will periodically wake throughout the winter to consume this food and at times, when the weather is suitable, exit its burrow to explore its surroundings.

The lodgepole chipmunk is known as a notorious stealer of bird eggs.

Acknowledgment:

• David E. Williams, 1994. Chipmunks: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. State Director. USDA-APHIS Animal Damage Control. Lincoln, Nebraska
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Chipmunks and Chipmunk Control - Part 4 of 9 - Where Chipmunks Live

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There are nearly as many preferable habitats for the various types of chipmunk as there are differences between them. Which is easily understood considering they inhabit elevations ranging from sea level to 14,000 feet and their corresponding eco-systems. One habitat characteristic that seems to be common among many types of chipmunk is the preference for some sort of rocky outcropping which is used for both burrow creation and shelter. Other chipmunks prefer forested areas, and for a few types, the forest is a requirement for their habitat. Others still, strictly avoid it.

Most chipmunk burrows will be 20 to 30 feet long and have many openings, some of which may be hidden by leaves and debris. The burrow system will typically contain a nesting chamber and several food storage chambers and may be used for many seasons. In the creation of the burrow system, the chipmunk does not leave any apparent dirt mounding near any of its burrow openings; it will carry this dirt away in its cheek pouches and loosely distribute it to help conceal these entrances.

The least chipmunk, Allen's chipmunk, red-tailed chipmunk, long-eared chipmunk, Merriam's chipmunk (the Unita chipmunk and Palmer's chipmunk as well, to a lesser extent) all are prolific climbers and often will construct their nests in a tree high above the ground. Most of the other members of the species' not listed above are only found in a tree when frightened. All chipmunks create their hibernation chambers underground.

Particular preferences for individual species may be found below. Not all species are listed:

• Eastern chipmunk - A ground dweller. The eastern chipmunk has two breeding seasons a year averaging 4 to 5 offspring per pregnancy. This chipmunk will defend a small territory around its burrow.
  
• Least chipmunk - An occasional Tree dweller. The least chipmunk has one litter a year of between 2 and 6 young. The male of this species may help raise the young.
  
• Colorado chipmunk - A ground dweller that may often be seen foraging for food high in trees. This chipmunk can be found at elevations from 6,000 to 8,200 feet. The Colorado chipmunk typically has one litter of 2 to 7 young per year, however, a second litter occasionally may be found in the late fall. The male of this species may help raise the young.
  
• Uinta chipmunk - A tree dweller found at elevations from 6,500 to 11,200 feet. The Unita chipmunk has one litter of 4 to 5 young per year. This chipmunk may occasionally create its nest in an abandoned birds nest.
  
• Lodgepole chipmunk - Another ground dweller that may often be seen foraging for food high in trees. The lodgepole chipmunk will have one litter of 3 to 6 pups per year. This chipmunk can be found at elevations from 4,900 to 11,000 feet. A very shy chipmunk that will rarely be seen or heard.
  
• Sonoma chipmunk - A ground dweller. The Sonoma chipmunk has one litter of 3 to 5 young per year. This chipmunk can be found at elevations from sea level to 6,000 feet. It is generally believed that the members of this species found at lower elevations do not hibernate.
  
• Allen's chipmunk - A tree dweller found at elevations from 500 to 6,000 feet. The Allen's chipmunk has one litter of 3 to 5 young per year.
  
• Red-tailed chipmunk - Another tree dweller. The red-tailed chipmunk has one litter of 3 to 8 young per year.
  
• Long-eared chipmunk - A tree dweller found at elevations from 3,200 to 7,400 feet. The long-eared chipmunk has one litter of 3 to 5 young per year.
  
• Panamint chipmunk - A ground dweller preferring a rocky habitat. The Panamint chipmunk has one litter of 4 to 6 young per year and will be found at elevations between 4,500 and 9,000 feet.
  
• Palmer's chipmunk - Mainly a tree dweller found at elevations from 6,900 to 11,800 feet. The Palmer's chipmunk has one litter of 3 to 6 young per year. This species of chipmunk is extremely aggressive and territorial.
  
• Merriam's chipmunk - A tree and ground dweller found at elevations up to and beyond 8,800 feet. The Merriam's chipmunk has one litter of 3 to 7 young per year.
  
• Cliff chipmunk - Typically a rock outcropping dweller found at elevations from 4,900 to 12,000+ feet. The Cliff chipmunk has one litter of 4 to 6 young per year and is usually active in the early morning and late afternoon. This species of chipmunk is fiercely territorial near its burrow but often shares food sites with other cliff chipmunks.
  
• Gray-collared chipmunk - A ground dweller found at elevations from 6,400 to 11,000+ feet. The gray-collared chipmunk has one litter of 2 to 5 young per year. These animals will often be found around homes and structures.
  
• Gray-footed chipmunk - A ground dweller found at elevations from 5,300 to 11,900 feet. The gray-footed chipmunk has one litter of about 4 young per year.
  
• Yellow-pine chipmunk - A tree and ground dweller found at elevations from 2,000 to 14,000+ feet. The yellow-pine chipmunk has one litter of 3 to 8 young per year.
  
• Alpine chipmunk - A ground dweller found at elevations from 7,500 to 12,500+ feet. The alpine chipmunk has one litter of 4 to 5 young per year.
  

Acknowledgment:

• David E. Williams, 1994. Chipmunks: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. State Director. USDA-APHIS Animal Damage Control. Lincoln, Nebraska
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Chipmunks and Chipmunk Control - Part 3 of 9 - Chipmunk Geography

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• Eastern chipmunk - found in most areas of eastern North America from North Carolina across the center of the gulf bordering states to Louisana, North to central Ontario and northeast to Nova Scotia.
  
• Hopi chipmunk - found in the canyon-lands of eastern Utah, northern Arizona, and western Colorado.
  
• Least chipmunk - found from the Rocky Mountains west to the Sierra Nevada and from northern Arizona and central New Mexico north to northern Canada. The least chipmunk is not found in the majority of the states of Idaho, Washington, or Oregon but is found throughout most of central Canada.
  
• Townsend's chipmunk - found mostly along the costal areas of Oregon, Washington, and southern British Colombia.
  
• Dusky chipmunk - found in California and northern Mexico in a thin band from the San Bernardino & San Jacinto ranges south to Baja California.
  
• Yellow-cheeked chipmunk - found only in a very small costal area of California from the Eel River in Humboldt County to Bodega bay in Sonoma County.
  
• Siskiyou chipmunk - another very small ranging species of chipmunk, the Siskiyou chipmunk can be found in the mountains of northern California and southern Oregon.
  
• Colorado chipmunk - found in northern New Mexico, parts of eastern and northern Utah, and throughout Colorado.
  
• Uinta chipmunk - is found discontinuously distributed throughout the mountainous regions of the Southern Sierra Nevada in California and the mountains of Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming.
  
• Lodgepole chipmunk - found in California throughout the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada range and in the San Jacinto, San Bernardino, and San Gabriel mountains.
  
• Sonoma chipmunk - found on the west coast of California from the San Francisco bay area north to Siskiyou County.
  
• Allen's chipmunk - found on the west coast of California from the Eel River in Humboldt County north to southern Oregon and east across that entire range through the Sierra Nevada and just into Nevada itself.
  
• Red-tailed chipmunk - found in the Rocky Mountains northwest into northeastern Washington State, north along the eastern edge of British Colombia and east to southwestern Alberta.
  
• Long-eared chipmunk - found in California throughout the northern Sierra Nevada and in the Lake Tahoe Basin area of Nevada State.
  
• Panamint chipmunk - The Panamint chipmunk has a very small range between southeastern California and southwestern Nevada.
  
• Palmer's chipmunk - found only in the Spring Mountains west of Las Vegas, Nevada.
  
• Merriam's chipmunk - found throughout central and southern California.
  
• Cliff chipmunk - found in southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
  
• Gray-collared chipmunk - found in central and eastern Arizona and central and southwest New Mexico.
  
• Gray-footed chipmunk - found in the mountains of eastern New Mexico and western Texas.
  
• Yellow-pine chipmunk - found in the northwestern area of the United States and southwestern Canada.
  
• Alpine chipmunk - found exclusively in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of eastern and central California at altitudes of 7,500 to 12,500+ feet.
  

Acknowledgment:

• David E. Williams, 1994. Chipmunks: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. State Director. USDA-APHIS Animal Damage Control. Lincoln, Nebraska
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Chipmunks and Chipmunk Control - Part 2 of 9 - ID Your Chipmunk

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The locations where these particular chipmunks live can be found on our Chipmunk Geography page.

The chipmunk is a small, mostly ground-dwelling squirrel that can usually be distinguished from the squirrel by one of the following attributes:

• All chipmunks have stripes on their face.
  
• When startled, unlike the squirrel, most chipmunks will run away with their tail sticking straight into the air (most squirrels hold theirs horizontally and parallel to the ground).
  
• The chipmunk is much smaller than most squirrels.
  
• Unlike the squirrel, the chipmunk has pouches inside of its mouth where it will collect food to be stored - when these pouches are full, they can be as large as the head of the chipmunk.
  

Often, it may be difficult to tell two differing species of chipmunk apart that habituate a common area due to their numerous similarities. Listing these minute differences are well beyond the scope of this compilation. For definitive identification of similar species, simply perform a web search for your target animals.

North America is home to at least 22 species of chipmunk. Thirteen of these species can be found in California (with some overflow into surrounding states), the nine remaining species are scattered throughout North America. Not all of these species are listed below.

• Eastern chipmunk, Tamias striatus, is often the largest of the chipmunk species. On the back of the eastern chipmunk will be found 5 black stripes separated by stripes of gray, white, or brown. The underside of this chipmunk will typically be yellowish or whitish in color. The tail of the eastern chipmunk will be red-brown in color. Eastern chipmunks will grow to between 8.5-inches and 11.25-inches long and have an average weight of approximately 3.8 ounces.
  
• Hopi chipmunk, Tamias rufus, is one of the smaller of the chipmunk species weighing in at approximately 1.9 ounces and measuring between 6 and 8-inches in length. The Hopi chipmunks' coloring is typically a pale orange to yellow with faint almost unnoticeable stripes.
  
• Least chipmunk, Tamias minimus, is the smallest chipmunk found in North America. This chipmunk has three dark and two light stripes on the face and five dark and four light stripes on its back. The center stripe on the back of the least chipmunk will run to the end of its tail. The fur surrounding the stripes is typically orange-brown in color and its underside will be a white or off-white hue. The least chipmunk will grow to between 6 and 8-inches long and weigh between 1.5 ounces and 1.9 ounces.
  
• Townsend's chipmunk, Tamias townsendii. is one of the larger western chipmunks and will be most often found with dark colored fur and distinctive stripes. The Townsend's chipmunk will grow to between 8.7-inches and 12.5-inches long and have an average weight of approximately 3.5 ounces but can weigh up to 5 ounces.
  
• Dusky chipmunk, Tamias obscurus, is found with a grayish colored head, distinctive black and white colored facial stripes, and rather indistinct body striping that tends to blend in with its brownish background coloring. The dusky chipmunk will grow to between 8.25-inches and 9.25-inches long and weigh between 2 and 3 ounces.
  
• Yellow-cheeked chipmunk, Tamias ochrogenys, the yellow-cheeked chipmunk is very similar in appearance to the Hopi chipmunk in its pale yellowish-orange coloring. The yellow-cheeked chipmunk will grow to an average length of 10.25-inches and have an average weight of approximately 3.4 ounces.
  
• Siskiyou chipmunk, Tamias siskiyou, is found with a dull brown or grayish coat and is another of the larger chipmunk species. The Siskiyou chipmunk will grow to between 9.75 and 10.5-inches long and weight between 2.25 and 3.5 ounces.
  
• Colorado chipmunk, Tamias quadrivittatus, is one of the smaller of the chipmunk species averaging in at approximately 2.5 ounces in weight and measuring between 7 and 9-inches in length. The coloring of the Colorado chipmunk is yellowish brown with 3 black median stripes on its back that are typically margined by yellow-orange. The outer stripes are usually brown and the underside of the Colorado chipmunk is often an off-white or gray.
  
• Uinta chipmunk, Tamias umbrinus, is found with broad, brown colored body stripes edged with white and a grey or grey-brown colored head with black facial stripes. The Unita chipmunk has an off-white or gray-white underside. The Unita chipmunk is a medium sized chipmunk that grows to an average of between 8.5 and 9.5-inches long and weigh between 1.8 and 2.6 ounces.
  
• Lodgepole chipmunk, Tamias speciosus, is another of the small to medium sized chipmunk species found in North America. The lodgepole chipmunk will grow to an average of between 7.75 and 9-inches long and weigh between 1.8 and 2.5 ounces. This chipmunk is typically easy to identify in relationship to other neighboring chipmunk species that habituate the same area due to its sharp coloration and distinctive markings. The facial and body striping of the lodgepole chipmunk tend to be very dark and usually are a sharp contrast with the lighter colored border stripes. The underside of the lodgepole chipmunk will typically be a cinnamon color.
  
• Sonoma chipmunk, Tamias sonomae, is identified by rust colored body fur with 5 black body stripes separated by gray or brown colored stripes that are not sharply distinct. The facial stripes of the Sonoma chipmunk are usually white and its underside is typically found to be a creamy white hue.
  
• Allen's chipmunk, Tamias senex, also known as the shadow chipmunk, is a large chipmunk found with gray colored fur and one clearly discernable black body stripe. The underside of the Allen's chipmunk is typically white in color. The Allen's chipmunk will grow to between 9 and 10.25-inches long and weigh between 2.5 and 4 ounces.
  
• Red-tailed chipmunk, Tamias ruficaudus, is a large and deep orange-brown colored chipmunk with distinct contrasting colors. Its dark colored or black body stripes typically alternate with or gray or white. The facial stripes of the red-tailed chipmunk alternate brown and milky-white with a black eye stripe. The red-tailed chipmunk will grow to an average length of 9.25-inches and have an average weight of approximately 2.1 ounces.
  
• Long-eared chipmunk, Tamias quadrimaculatus, is easily distinguished by white patches of fur behind each of its long slender ears, dark body striping, and white-fringed tail. The bulk of its body is typically red hued with a white underside. The long-eared chipmunk will grow to between 9 and 9.5-inches long and weight between 2.6 and 3.7 ounces.
  
• Panamint chipmunk, Tamias panamintinus, is colored a bright tawny or yellowish color with mostly faded markings except for its uppermost stripes, which are typically dark with a brown center stripe. The Panamint chipmunk usually has a gray head and underside. This chipmunk will grow to between 8. 5 and 9.5-inches long and weight between 2.6 and 3.7 ounces.
  
• Palmer's chipmunk, Tamias palmeri, is one of the smaller of the chipmunk species averaging in at approximately 1.75 to 2.5 ounces in weight and measuring between 8.25 and 8.75-inches in length. The coloring of the Palmer's chipmunk is tawny and tan with distinctive solid black and solid white stripes and a pale underside.
  
• Merriam's chipmunk, Tamias merriami, is found with grayish-brown fur and dark colored body stripes of equal width on its back. The Merriam's chipmunk typically will have a white underside and white cheeks. The Merriam's chipmunk is a larger sized chipmunk that grows to an average length of 9.5-inches long and may weigh between 2.5 and 2.75 ounces.
  
• Cliff chipmunk, Tamias dorsalis, is primarily a gray-brown colored chipmunk with dark body stripes on its back that are typically more distinct during the summer than the winter. This particular species tends to not have white stripes alternating with the darker body stripes. The underside of the cliff chipmunk will often be a off-white color. The cliff chipmunk will grow to an average of between 8.5 and 9.5-inches long and weigh between 2.1 and 2.6 ounces.
  
• Gray-collared chipmunk, Tamias cinereicollis, is easily identified by its distinct black, pale gray, and off-white body stripes and gray hood. The gray-collared chipmunk will grow to an average of between 8.1 and 9.5-inches long and weigh between 1.9 and 2.5 ounces.
  
• Gray-footed chipmunk, Tamias canipes. The distinguishing feature of this chipmunk is its gray colored fur on its hind feet. The primary body striping of this chipmunk will be brown or black alternating with stripes of gray-brown and gray-white. The underside of the gray-footed chipmunk is typically creamy-white in color. The gray-footed chipmunk will grow to between 8.25 and 10.25-inches long and weigh between 2.3 and 2.6 ounces.
  
• Yellow-pine chipmunk, Tamias amoenus, has 5 black, evenly spaced body stripes alternating with stripes of gray or white. The bulk of the body fur of the yellow-pine chipmunk will typically found to be a cinnamon or light-brown coloring. The yellow-pine chipmunk is one of the smaller North American chipmunks. It will grow to between 7 and 9.25-inches and weigh between 1 and 1.75 ounces.
  
• Alpine chipmunk, Tamias alpinus, , is a small chipmunk of pale yellow-gray coloring and slightly contrasting body stripes. The belly of the alpine chipmunk is usually found to be a bright orange color. This chipmunk will grow to between 6.5 and 8-inches long and weight between 2.6 and 3.7 ounces.
  

Acknowledgment:

• David E. Williams, 1994. Chipmunks: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. State Director. USDA-APHIS Animal Damage Control. Lincoln, Nebraska
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Chipmunks and Chipmunk Control - Part 1 of 9 - The Chipmunk

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Unlike the gopher and mole, which are primarily underground dwellers, the chipmunk is similar to the woodchuck as a surface grazer. It will typically be found sitting on a log or rock snacking or primping its fur coat or dashing off at a high speed emitting a whole collection of sounds while holding its tail straight into the air. This inclination of the chipmunk to hold its tail in this posture can often be used to distinguish between it and a squirrel, as the tendency of most squirrels is to hold its tail horizontal while running. The chipmunk is actually a small type of squirrel and often the only other characteristics that can be used to differentiate between the two besides tail posturing are the facial stripes, and smaller size of the chipmunk.

The chipmunk is usually a solitary animal that will only socialize during the mating season. When not engaging in mating activity, most chipmunks will be found on what seems an endless quest for gathering, eating, and hoarding food and chasing other chipmunks away from its burrow. This voracious practice of collecting food can often be one of the factors to get the chipmunk in trouble with the humans whom it lives around. Unprotected bulbs, seed, vegetables, and fruits within easy reach of the chipmunk are all fair game, and because the chipmunk is often collecting and storing many of these items rather than eat them, it can do considerable damage to a flower or vegetable garden within a short period of time unless proper protective or preventative measures are taken. Another area where the chipmunk also tends to get itself into trouble is in the creation of its burrow under or near a structure. This burrow will occasionally have the tendency to weaken the structure under which it is made and in some cases may lead to structural failure; again proper protective or preventative measures can be exercised to avoid this problem.

Acknowledgment:

• David E. Williams, 1994. Chipmunks: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. State Director. USDA-APHIS Animal Damage Control. Lincoln, Nebraska
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Voles and Vole Control - Part 11 of 11 - Vole Control Methods

This article may be viewed in its entirety on our website Vole control, Mole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home. Select your desired link from the "Critter Confused" navigation box on the left.

Please see our Resource Directory for links to retailers who sell many of the Vole Control products mentioned below.

Repellants

• Thiram and Capsaicin are registered as vole repellants.
  
• Predator Odors (Coyote urine, Fox urine, etc.)
  

Toxicants

• There are a number of vole baits available on the market
  

Fumigants

• Aluminum phosphide
  
• Carbon monoxide from engine exhaust
  

Trapping

• Mouse snap traps can be used in very small vole population situations
  

Miscellaneous

• Professional abatement
  
• Owl box installation
  

Acknowledgment:

• O'Brein, John M., 1994. Voles: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Agricultural Programs Coordinator. Nevada Department of Agriculture
  
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Recent Website updates/changes:

Voles and Vole Control - Part 10 of 11 - Vole Damage Prevention - Create Your Own Raised Planter Box Liners

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This preventative measure requires the use of ½-inch hardware fabric, which can be found at most hardware stores (hardware fabric is welded wire mesh similar to "chicken wire" but has smaller hole spacing. It is available in a range of sizes from ¼-inch up and a plethora of lengths and widths.). Tools required are: tin snips (to cut wire to length), roll of utility wire (fine gage, for constructing baskets), pliers, gloves (wire is sharp), and a staple gun (for raised boxes).

I create raised beds using redwood 2x12, retaining wall stock if available. Retaining wall stock or "rough redwood" material tends to be thicker and better suited for ground contact – Do Not Use pressure treated lumber in your garden, the chemicals used to make this material are highly toxic and will poison your plants. I build my raised beds 4-feet wide to facilitate the use of 4-foot wide hardware cloth (largest width available). Boxes may be constructed larger than this dimension, however, the seam between the two sections of hardware cloth will need to be "stitched" together as would be any end seams if it breaks in the center of the box. Once the box is assembled (use galvanized nails), select a top, flip the box upside down and staple the hardware cloth to the box with the longest galvanized staples you can find. Don’t be shy with the staples; use a lot of them. Right side the box and fill with soil. Check the integrity of the wire every couple years and replace when necessary.

Acknowledgment:

• O'Brein, John M., 1994. Voles: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Agricultural Programs Coordinator. Nevada Department of Agriculture
  
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Recent Website updates/changes:

Voles and Vole Control - Part 9 of 11 - Vole Damage Prevention - Create Your Own Plant Baskets

This article may be viewed in its entirety on our website Vole control, Mole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home. Select your desired link from the "Critter Confused" navigation box on the left.

This preventative measure requires the use of ½-inch hardware fabric, which can be found at most hardware stores (hardware fabric is welded wire mesh similar to "chicken wire" but has smaller hole spacing. It is available in a range of sizes from ¼-inch up and a plethora of lengths and widths.). Tools required are: tin snips (to cut wire to length), roll of utility wire (fine gage, for constructing baskets), pliers, gloves (wire is sharp), and a staple gun (for raised boxes).

I create wire baskets using the ½-inch by 3-foot wide by 25-foot long rolls of hardware fabric described above, which will make six 18-inch baskets. I use the ½-inch mesh because the ¼-inch is too fine, and the 1-inch too large ("chicken wire" is much too large). First, let me mention that some hardware stores carry relatively inexpensive pre-made wire baskets for this exact purpose. If you can find these baskets in the size you require, I would recommend purchasing them as building them yourself is time consuming and a bit of a small battle (the hardware cloth seems to always want to stab me). I try to make my baskets at least twice the current diameter of the pot of the plant to be planted up to a maximum of 18–inches across (each 18-inch diameter basket will require approximately 5 linear feet of hardware cloth).

• Cut the hardware cloth to your desired length, and then cut it again lengthwise so you have two equally sized pieces (two baskets).
  
• Cut two or three pieces of wire 2-inches long, flex the hardware cloth around lengthwise so its ends overlap a bit and form a cylinder. In a couple areas, bend the 2-inch pieces of wire around the ends of the mesh where they overlap to hold the cylinder together.
  
• Cut a section of wire approximately 24-inches long and "stitch" the basket together by looping it through the overlapping holes, cut more wire if necessary. This should result in an 18-inch diameter by 18-inch tall cylinder.
  
• Cut a 24-inch by 24-inch piece of hardware cloth from the roll. Flatten this piece out and lay it on the ground. Select one end of your cylinder to be the top and set the other down centered upon the 24-inch by 24-inch piece.
  
• Cut three or four pieces of wire 2-inches long and use them to tie the bottom piece to the cylinder. Again, cut a 24-inch piece of wire and "stitch" the bottom to the cylinder by looping the wire through the holes. Once completed, bend the excess wire projecting from the cylinder up toward the basket.
  
• Dig a hole of a size that will allow 3-inches of the basket to project above the surface of the soil. Following this guideline will leave enough of the basket exposed for inspection of deterioration: This is critical when using the baskets for planting seasonal plants such as tomatoes, etc. When sufficient evidence of deterioration is noted it will be time to remove the basket and install a new one. The duration of basket longevity is difficult to determine due to differing weather conditions, water composition, soil types, fertilization, basket material composition, and etc. however, 3 to 5 years should be relatively safe.
  

Acknowledgment:

• O'Brein, John M., 1994. Voles: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Agricultural Programs Coordinator. Nevada Department of Agriculture
  
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

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Voles and Vole Control - Part 8 of 11 - Vole Damage Prevention

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Because the vole has explosive population growth potential and a voracious appetite, it is especially important to control the vole's numbers in areas where they can proliferate and cause great harm to humans, plants, and livestock.

Many of these techniques are the same preventative measures you would use for other burrowing critters such as gophers, moles, chipmunks, squirrels, woodchucks, shrews, prairie dogs or any other type of burrowing animal - The idea is the same – keep them out! I do just that by creating wire baskets that I set into the ground before planting my new plant; these baskets surround the roots of my small trees and shrubs with a protective barrier that allow the plants to establish themselves and grow large enough that they cannot be threatened by these menacing creatures. Another tactic I employ for the vegetable garden is to staple wire mesh to the bottom of raised redwood boxes, creating an impenetrable barrier to protect my vegetables.

Instructions for Wire Baskets

Instructions for Raised Planter Box Liners

Vegetation Control — elimination of dense shrubbery, grasses, and litter from areas desired to be kept or made vole free will often be successful due to the removal of food and habitation sources for the vole. Mow, spray, till, or graze these areas to keep vole populations to a minimum.

Acknowledgment:

• O'Brein, John M., 1994. Voles: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Agricultural Programs Coordinator. Nevada Department of Agriculture
  
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Voles and Vole Control - Part 7 of 11 - Vole Damage

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The vole is a very prolific breeder and as a result one may find many of these animals eating anything they can get their little paws on. The vole has been known to cause great damage (at times complete) to crops, orchards, and small plants and trees, especially when they reach high population densities.

Like the mouse, the vole can carry disease that can be transferred to humans through food cross-contamination or direct contact.

Like the gopher, the vole can cause extensive damage in levee systems to the level of complete failure in the creation of its underground burrows and tunnels. This great amount of tunneling can also be a large problem in irrigated areas as these tunnels can channel water away from the area it was intended to reach.

Acknowledgment:

• O'Brein, John M., 1994. Voles: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Agricultural Programs Coordinator. Nevada Department of Agriculture
  
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Voles and Vole Control - Part 6 of 11 - Vole Facts

This article may be viewed in its entirety on our website Vole control, Mole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home. Select your desired link from the "Critter Confused" navigation box on the left.

• The vole is often confused with the mole and gopher due to habitat overlap and similar eating habits - Control methods differ for these three species; many people misidentify their target and often use improper techniques in their abatement efforts.
  
• Some species of vole can be found to inhabit elevations of up to 12,000 ft.
  
• Voles do not hibernate.
  
• Voles can be found active virtually any time of day. In colder climates, the vole tends to be more active during the day in winter. In warmer climates, the vole tends to be nocturnal in summer.
  
• Voles are not sanitary animals – piles of feces will often be found throughout their burrow.
  
• The ears of the vole are smaller in comparison to the mouse.
  
• California and meadow voles will cannibalize the young of other voles if found.
  
• The female California vole will abandon her young if she is exposed the pheromones of an unknown male California vole.
  
• Voles will often "borrow" the burrow of another burrowing creature in its travels.
  
• Most voles will rarely live more than a year.
  
• Meadow voles are aggressive and will attack if cornered or captured.
  

Acknowledgment:

• O'Brein, John M., 1994. Voles: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Agricultural Programs Coordinator. Nevada Department of Agriculture
  
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Voles and Vole Control - Part 5 of 11 - What Voles Eat

This article may be viewed in its entirety on our website Vole control, Mole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home. Select your desired link from the "Critter Confused" navigation box on the left.

The vole is primarily a herbivore, feeding on roots, leaves, seeds, grasses, fruit, underground fungi, and nearly any type of green plant. The meadow vole is a particularly voracious eater, devouring up to 60% of its bodyweight including insects and the young of other meadow voles. Voles do not hibernate or store caches of food (except possibly the pine vole); many voles will eat bark and twigs during the winter months when green food is scarce.

Acknowledgment:

• O'Brein, John M., 1994. Voles: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Agricultural Programs Coordinator. Nevada Department of Agriculture
  
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Voles and Vole Control - Part 4 of 11 - Where Voles Live

This article may be viewed in its entirety on our website Vole control, Mole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home. Select your desired link from the "Critter Confused" navigation box on the left.

Voles, like moles, exist in a wide range of living conditions: they are found in geographical elevations ranging from lowland costal areas, to mountains in excess of 12,000 feet amidst a wide array of soil types and climate conditions.

Voles as a species prefer to habituate areas thick in grasses and underbrush where they can create runways and grass tunnels that will keep their travels hidden away from predatory eyes. When tunnels are available, most species of vole will borrow these tunnels and runway systems created by other types of burrowing pests such as the gopher or mole rather than dig their own. Often while traveling through these tunnels the vole will stop to “snack” on food sources it finds in the tunnel which can cause critter identification confusion such as when it borrows the tunnel of a mole.

The most obvious vole calling card can be found at its burrow opening. The vole burrow opening will typically have all of the grass that immediately surrounds it closely cropped and there will not be any apparent soil mounding evidence.

Some vole species specifics are as follows:

• Mountain vole — Prefers a moist or wet habitat with abundant, dense, grass protection. The mountain vole will often be found near a source of water. The nest of the mountain vole, which is often lined with dried grasses, will be excavated in moist soil. The female mountain vole is territorial, and will defend up to 100 feet from the nest opening.
  
• California vole — The California vole will often be found to reside in a habitat very similar to that of the mountain vole. Also in common with the mountain vole, this vole will create its nesting burrow with dried grasses however, unlike the mountain vole, both the male and female will defend the nest. The California vole is a social species, often sharing its burrow with other voles after the breeding season.
  
• Oregon vole — Found mostly in forested area in various condition of tree and brush coverage from heavy forestation to burned or clear-cut. The population of Oregon voles is often found to be higher in the areas of clear-cut or fire damage possibly due to the increase in sun exposure and the resulting increase in plant growth. This vole can often be found to make its burrow and nest inside rotting logs.
  
• Pine vole — The pine or woodland vole will be found in deciduous forest areas where they will forage and create their burrow in the dense leaf foliage and loose soil found on the forest floor. The female of this species of vole will create a round shaped nest of shredded vegetation. The pine vole is a social vole, and may often be found in the company of other pine voles.
  
• Prairie vole — As their name suggests, the prairie vole will typically be found on grass-covered plains and fields. Like the pine or woodland vole, the prairie vole will construct a ball shaped nest of vegetation and grass. This vole is monogamous, and the male will help with raising the young. The male prairie vole is fiercely territorial and will evict any other males who enter his territory.
  
• Long-tailed vole — The long tailed vole habituates a wide range of environmental conditions from mountains to forest to grasslands to marshlands. This particular vole is not known to create much of a surface runway system but is a prolific burrower.
  
• Meadow vole — Being the most widespread vole in North America, it is understandable that the meadow vole can be found to inhabit nearly any type of moist ecological location. The meadow vole will create an extremely elaborate surface runway system to forage and mate, and they are capable diggers and swimmers. The female meadow vole is territorial and will aggressively defend her space.
  

Acknowledgment:

• O'Brein, John M., 1994. Voles: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Agricultural Programs Coordinator. Nevada Department of Agriculture
  
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Voles and Vole Control - Part 3 of 11 - Vole Geography

This article may be viewed in its entirety on our website Vole control, Mole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home. Select your desired link from the "Critter Confused" navigation box on the left.

• Prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) occur from northeastern New Mexico across to Alabama, up toward western West Virginia and northwest to central Alberta.
  

• Meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) occur from Alaska to the Atlantic coast, south to northern Georgia, and west to the Rocky Mountains. Also found in northern New Mexico.
  
• California vole (Microtus californicus) found along the Pacific Coast from British Colombia to the upper coastal regions of California.
  

• Long-tailed vole (Microtus longicaudus) found throughout the western United States and Canada up to the southeastern edge of Alaska.
  

• Pine vole (Microtus pinetorum) found throughout the eastern United States from New Hampshire to southern Georgia, across to eastern Texas, and diagonally up to the Great Lakes.
  
• Mountain vole (Microtus montanus) found from the Sierra Nevada in California to British Colombia and across to the Rocky Mountain Range.
  
• Oregon vole (Microtus oregoni) found along the Pacific Coast from lower British Colombia to the upper coastal regions of California.
  
  
  
  

Acknowledgment:

• O'Brein, John M., 1994. Voles: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Agricultural Programs Coordinator. Nevada Department of Agriculture
  
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Voles and Vole Control - Part 2 of 11 - ID your Vole

This article may be viewed in its entirety on our website Vole control, Mole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home. Select your desired link from the "Critter Confused" navigation box on the left.

The Vole is often called a meadow mouse or field mouse, and it averages the size of a large mouse or small rat. They are found to weigh anywhere from ½ ounce to 3 ounces. The vole has small eyes and ears, the latter being mostly hidden in its fur.

Although it is generally believed that the vole is nocturnal, they may be active at any time. The vole will create shallow surface tunnels much like the mole in its search for food, but it is also just as likely to be found foraging on the surface. Most voles are social animals and many types will share their burrow with a handful of loosely related individuals.

North America is home to 23 species of vole: Below, we will discuss seven of the widest ranging and most destructive of these 23 species. The locations where these particular voles live may be found on our Vole Geography page.

• Mountain vole, Microtus montanus, also known as the montane vole. It has grayish brown to brownish yellow fur on its upper body and white tipped, black hair on its underside. The mountain vole will grow to between 5.5-inches and 7-inches long and have an average weight of approximately 2.5 ounces.
  
• California vole, Microtus californicus, has brown colored fur usually with a reddish hued section down the center of the back; its underside is typically blue-gray to white. The California vole spends very little of its time on the surface. It will grow to between 5.5-inches and 8.5-inches long and weigh between 1.3 ounces and 3.75 ounces.
  
• Oregon vole, Microtus oregoni, also known as the creeping vole. This vole has dark gray to dark brown fur with an underside that is gray to white. The Oregon vole will grow to between 5.5-inches and 6.5-inches long and weigh between 1.25 ounces and 2.75 ounces.
  
• Pine vole, Microtus pinetorum. also known as the woodland vole and one of the smallest voles in the United States. The pine vole is covered from tip of nose to tip of tail with light brown to dark brown fur with a white or silvery underside. It will grow to between 3.25-inches and 4.75-inches long and weigh between .5 ounces and 1.25 ounces.
  
• Prairie vole, Microtus ochrogaster, the most common vole found in the Great Plains grasslands and prairie habitats. The prairie vole is found with dark brown to black hair tipped with black or muddy-yellow and a tan underside. This vole will grow to between 5-inches and 7-inches and weigh between 1 ounce and 2.5 ounces.
  
• Long-tailed vole, Microtus longicaudus, aptly named; the tail of the long-tailed vole will often make up 30% or more of its total length. This vole is found with black tipped, gray-brown to dark brown fur and a light colored underside. The Long-tailed vole will grow to between 6-inches and 10-inches long and weight between 2 ounces and 3.5 ounces.
  
• Meadow vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus, the most common vole in North America. The meadow vole is found with coarse, dark brown to reddish brown fur and a gray or off-white underside. This vole will grow to between 5-inches and 7.5-inches and weigh between 1.25 ounce and 2.5 ounces.
  

Acknowledgment:

• O'Brein, John M., 1994. Voles: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Agricultural Programs Coordinator. Nevada Department of Agriculture
  
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Our Latest Links:

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at My Family KitchenYou can get free recipe collections anywhere online today. The difference is that MyFamilyKitchen.com strives to bring you the best in quick and easy recipes, cooking tips, nutritional and culinary advice that we can.

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at Discounted Kitchen SuppliesDiscount Kitchenware, Cookware, Cutlery, and Kitchen Supplies.

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at Skymol Click-to-AskThe new path of online Sales and Customer Care - Provider of Online Chat software so you may help your customers and increase sales in real time.

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at UBK's Webtool This site holds free Web tools, seo tools, webmaster services, sitemap generator. Submit your site to our free web directory. Enjoy our event calendar built with ajax, php, mysql. AJAX, php-mysql developmen

Voles and Vole Control - Part 1 of 11 - The Vole

This article may be viewed in its entirety on our website Vole control, Mole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home. Select your desired link from the "Critter Confused" navigation box on the left.

The vole is often confused with the mole and gopher due to habitat overlap and similar eating habits - Control methods differ for these three species; many people misidentify their target and often use improper techniques in their abatement efforts.

A vole is, to all intents and purposes, a medium to large sized mouse that lives outdoors: except it has smaller ears. The vole is, in fact, often called a meadow mouse or field mouse and like the mouse is capable of explosive population growth in areas where abundant food and shelter can be found. If vole presence is confirmed, immediate steps must be taken to remove the vole as these animals can do a great deal of damage to orchards, crops, and landscaping in a short period of time. The female vole has an average of 3 to 4 litters of 3 to 6 young a year of which the female offspring will mature in 35 to 40 days and begin to have young of her own. This high reproductive rate in combination with ideal living conditions has led to recorded vole populations of up to 500 or more voles per acre.

The most obvious vole calling card can be found at its burrow opening. The vole burrow opening will typically have all of the grass that immediately surrounds it closely cropped and there will not be any apparent soil mounding evidence. Another sign of vole activity will be the presence of surface runways (tunnels made through heavy vegetation or grasses) that are required by voles both for food foraging and cover while traveling.

Vole prevention is easily accomplished with some simple "housekeeping" habits. These preventative measures, once taken, will often remove a great portion of the vole problem leaving only a small clan of individuals to deal with.

Like gophers and moles, voles do not hibernate, and are active throughout the day.

Acknowledgment:

• O'Brein, John M., 1994. Voles: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Agricultural Programs Coordinator. Nevada Department of Agriculture
  
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Our Latest Links:

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at My Family KitchenYou can get free recipe collections anywhere online today. The difference is that MyFamilyKitchen.com strives to bring you the best in quick and easy recipes, cooking tips, nutritional and culinary advice that we can.

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at Discounted Kitchen SuppliesDiscount Kitchenware, Cookware, Cutlery, and Kitchen Supplies.

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at Skymol Click-to-AskThe new path of online Sales and Customer Care - Provider of Online Chat software so you may help your customers and increase sales in real time.

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at UBK's Webtool This site holds free Web tools, seo tools, webmaster services, sitemap generator. Submit your site to our free web directory. Enjoy our event calendar built with ajax, php, mysql. AJAX, php-mysql developmen

Pocket Gophers and Pocket Gopher Control - Part 11 of 11 - Pocket Gopher Control Methods

This article may be viewed in its entirety on our website Vole control, Mole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home. Select your desired link from the "Critter Confused" navigation box on the left.

Our Gopher & Pocket Gopher guides contain the same information (they're the same animal): If you've read one, you will not learn anything new in the other. Both are listed for site search purposes.

Please see our Resource Directory for links to retailers who sell many of the Pocket Gopher Control products mentioned below.

Repellants

• Predator Odors (Coyote urine, Fox urine, etc.)
  
• Sonic "mole chaser"
  
• The plants caper spurge, gopher purge, mole plant, and the castor oil plant
  
• Windmills (whirly-birds) – sound emitting
  

Toxicants

• Strychnine alkaloid on grain baits – manually placed inside burrow
  

Fumigants

• Aluminum phosphide
  
• Carbon monoxide from engine exhaust
  

Trapping

• Many different types of both live and kill traps are currently available
  

Miscellaneous

• Shooting
  
• Professional abatement
  
• Owl box installation
  

Acknowledgment:


• Case, R. M., 1994. Pocket gophers: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Department of Forestry, Fisheries
  and Wildlife. University of Nebraska
  
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Our Latest Links:

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at Mike's Backyard GardenWelcome to Mike's Backyard Garden. Mike has created his web pages to share with fellow gardeners his efforts and passion for gardening. As you will see, he has a passion for Lilies and has recently become interested in the Hemerocallis or Daylilies.

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at Summer Hill SeedsA seed supplier featuring rare and hard-to-find flower seeds at an affordable price.

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at Henning's Rhododendron & Azalea Pages Tons and tons of Rhododendron & Azalea information from a true Pro.

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at Crewise: Home of Worldwide Discounted Shopping & TravelA large and well supported web directory with lots of great link information.

Pocket Gophers and Pocket Gopher Control - Part 10 of 11 - Create Your Own Box Liners

This article may be viewed in its entirety on our website Vole control, Mole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home. Select your desired link from the "Critter Confused" navigation box on the left.

Our Gopher & Pocket Gopher guides contain the same information (they're the same animal): If you've read one, you will not learn anything new in the other. Both are listed for site search purposes.

This preventative measure requires the use of ½-inch hardware fabric, which can be found at most hardware stores (hardware fabric is welded wire mesh similar to "chicken wire" but has smaller hole spacing. It is available in a range of sizes from ¼-inch up and a plethora of lengths and widths.). Tools required are: tin snips (to cut wire to length), roll of utility wire (fine gage, for constructing baskets), pliers, gloves (wire is sharp), and a staple gun (for raised boxes).

I create raised beds using redwood 2x12, retaining wall stock if available. Retaining wall stock or "rough redwood" material tends to be thicker and better suited for ground contact – Do Not Use pressure treated lumber in your garden, the chemicals used to make this material are highly toxic and will poison your plants. I build my raised beds 4-feet wide to facilitate the use of 4-foot wide hardware cloth (largest width available). Boxes may be constructed larger than this dimension, however, the seam between the two sections of hardware cloth will need to be "stitched" together as would be any end seams if it breaks in the center of the box. Once the box is assembled (use galvanized nails), select a top, flip the box upside down and staple the hardware cloth to the box with the longest galvanized staples you can find. Don’t be shy with the staples; use a lot of them. Right side the box and fill with soil. Check the integrity of the wire every couple years and replace when necessary.

Acknowledgment:


• Case, R. M., 1994. Pocket gophers: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Department of Forestry, Fisheries
  and Wildlife. University of Nebraska
  
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Our Latest Links:

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at Mike's Backyard GardenWelcome to Mike's Backyard Garden. Mike has created his web pages to share with fellow gardeners his efforts and passion for gardening. As you will see, he has a passion for Lilies and has recently become interested in the Hemerocallis or Daylilies.

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at Summer Hill SeedsA seed supplier featuring rare and hard-to-find flower seeds at an affordable price.

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at Henning's Rhododendron & Azalea Pages Tons and tons of Rhododendron & Azalea information from a true Pro.

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at Crewise: Home of Worldwide Discounted Shopping & TravelA large and well supported web directory with lots of great link information.

Pocket Gophers and Pocket Gopher Control - Part 9 of 11 - Create Your Own Plant Baskets

This article may be viewed in its entirety on our website Vole control, Mole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home. Select your desired link from the "Critter Confused" navigation box on the left.

Our Gopher & Pocket Gopher guides contain the same information (they're the same animal): If you've read one, you will not learn anything new in the other. Both are listed for site search purposes.

This preventative measure requires the use of ½-inch hardware fabric, which can be found at most hardware stores (hardware fabric is welded wire mesh similar to "chicken wire" but has smaller hole spacing. It is available in a range of sizes from ¼-inch up and a plethora of lengths and widths.). Tools required are: tin snips (to cut wire to length), roll of utility wire (fine gage, for constructing baskets), pliers, gloves (wire is sharp), and a staple gun (for raised boxes).

I create wire baskets using the ½-inch by 3-foot wide by 25-foot long rolls of hardware fabric described above, which will make six 18-inch baskets. I use the ½-inch mesh because the ¼-inch is too fine, and the 1-inch too large ("chicken wire" is much too large). First, let me mention that some hardware stores carry relatively inexpensive pre-made wire baskets for this exact purpose. If you can find these baskets in the size you require, I would recommend purchasing them as building them yourself is time consuming and a bit of a small battle (the hardware cloth seems to always want to stab me). I try to make my baskets at least twice the current diameter of the pot of the plant to be planted up to a maximum of 18–inches across (each 18-inch diameter basket will require approximately 5 linear feet of hardware cloth).

• Cut the hardware cloth to your desired length, and then cut it again lengthwise so you have two equally sized pieces (two baskets).
  
• Cut two or three pieces of wire 2-inches long, flex the hardware cloth around lengthwise so its ends overlap a bit and form a cylinder. In a couple areas, bend the 2-inch pieces of wire around the ends of the mesh where they overlap to hold the cylinder together.
  
• Cut a section of wire approximately 24-inches long and "stitch" the basket together by looping it through the overlapping holes, cut more wire if necessary. This should result in an 18-inch diameter by 18-inch tall cylinder.
  
• Cut a 24-inch by 24-inch piece of hardware cloth from the roll. Flatten this piece out and lay it on the ground. Select one end of your cylinder to be the top and set the other down centered upon the 24-inch by 24-inch piece.
  
• Cut three or four pieces of wire 2-inches long and use them to tie the bottom piece to the cylinder. Again, cut a 24-inch piece of wire and "stitch" the bottom to the cylinder by looping the wire through the holes. Once completed, bend the excess wire projecting from the cylinder up toward the basket.
  
• Dig a hole of a size that will allow 3-inches of the basket to project above the surface of the soil. Following this guideline will leave enough of the basket exposed for inspection of deterioration: This is critical when using the baskets for planting seasonal plants such as tomatoes, etc. When sufficient evidence of deterioration is noted it will be time to remove the basket and install a new one. The duration of basket longevity is difficult to determine due to differing weather conditions, water composition, soil types, fertilization, basket material composition, and etc. however, 3 to 5 years should be relatively safe.
  

Acknowledgment:


• Case, R. M., 1994. Pocket gophers: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Department of Forestry, Fisheries
  and Wildlife. University of Nebraska
  
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Our Latest Links:

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at About FlowersA huge selection of articles about flowers - flower care, flower planting techniques, you name it!

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at Bobs Outdoor Store.Com Welcome to Bob's Outdoor Store where All of my Prices, are below the Manufacturers Suggested Retail Market Price. There are over 1500 Items listed inside the pages of this Website - lots of Camping Gear and Lawn and Garden hand tools.

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at Gardening Care TipsGardening Care Tips For the Home Gardener - Have the Lawn and Garden You Always Wanted.

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at My Garden Hose - A Gardening Information ResourceMy Garden Hose - An oasis in the desert of modern technology. Feel free to contribute your two cents. - There are now 530 Gardening Articles in our Database from 122 Authors

Pocket Gophers and Pocket Gopher Control - Part 8 of 11 - Pocket Gopher Damage Prevention

This article may be viewed in its entirety on our website Vole control, Mole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home. Select your desired link from the "Critter Confused" navigation box on the left.

Our Gopher & Pocket Gopher guides contain the same information (they're the same animal): If you've read one, you will not learn anything new in the other. Both are listed for site search purposes.

The key to controlling pocket gopher damage lies in proper prevention - once you have pocket gophers, regardless of how vigilant you are in your prevention techniques, chances are very good that you'll have one again at some point and it's better to have prevention items in place first rather than find out too late that you have a new "visitor". Many of these techniques are the same preventative measures you would use for other burrowing critters such as moles, voles, chipmunks, squirrels, woodchucks, shrews, prairie dogs or any other type of burrowing animal - The idea is the same - keep them out! I do just that by creating wire baskets that I set into the ground before planting my new plant; these baskets surround the roots of my small trees and shrubs with a protective barrier that allow the plants to establish themselves and grow large enough that they cannot be threatened by these menacing creatures. Another tactic I employ for the vegetable garden is to staple wire mesh to the bottom of raised redwood boxes, creating an impenetrable barrier to protect my vegetables.

Plant Baskets — Create your own, or purchase from your local hardware store

Box Liners — Create your own.

Underground cable & irrigation line protection — Surround cables and irrigation pipes with 6 to 8 inches of coarse gravel 1-inch or greater or incase these items in conduit with an outside diameter larger than 2 ½-inches.

Crop variety selection — Selection and use of a plant type that has several large roots tends to increase the chance of survival in pocket gopher habitats rather than plants with 1 single root. The presence of plants with large root structures in areas inhabited by the pocket gopher appears to result in decreased pocket gopher ranging possibly due to the abundance of food.

Crop Rotation — Alternating the growth of crops such as wheat or other types of grains with crops the pocket gopher loves such as alfalfa can create a situation where there is not enough food to sustain the needs of the pocket gopher and cause it to move elsewhere.

Grain buffer strips — Planting strips of grain approximately 50 feet in width between and around crops the pocket gopher may find desirable may isolate the attractive crop enough to discourage the hunt for it and cause pocket gophers to forage somewhere else.

Flood Irrigation — Use of this irrigation technique will create undesirable and uninhabitable living conditions for the pocket gopher.

Acknowledgment:


• Case, R. M., 1994. Pocket gophers: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Department of Forestry, Fisheries
  and Wildlife. University of Nebraska
  
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Our Latest Links:

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at About FlowersA huge selection of articles about flowers - flower care, flower planting techniques, you name it!

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at Bobs Outdoor Store.Com Welcome to Bob's Outdoor Store where All of my Prices, are below the Manufacturers Suggested Retail Market Price. There are over 1500 Items listed inside the pages of this Website - lots of Camping Gear and Lawn and Garden hand tools.

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at Gardening Care TipsGardening Care Tips For the Home Gardener - Have the Lawn and Garden You Always Wanted.

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at My Garden Hose - A Gardening Information ResourceMy Garden Hose - An oasis in the desert of modern technology. Feel free to contribute your two cents. - There are now 530 Gardening Articles in our Database from 122 Authors

Pocket Gophers and Pocket Gopher Control - Part 7 of 11 - Pocket Gopher Damage

This article may be viewed in its entirety on our website Vole control, Mole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home. Select your desired link from the "Critter Confused" navigation box on the left.

Our Gopher & Pocket Gopher guides contain the same information (they're the same animal): If you've read one, you will not learn anything new in the other. Both are listed for site search purposes.

Pocket Gophers, if left unchecked, can cause extensive damage to household utility items as well as plant life. The pocket gopher has been known to chew through irrigation lines and utility cables as well as undermine and weaken a home foundation. The plant damage they may cause can include stem girdling and clipping, root pruning, and even root exposure. There also is the danger the pocket gopher may smother some plant life when piling soil over it when creating its mound.

Soil brought to and deposited on the surface by the pocket gopher has a greater chance of erosion by rainwater.

Pocket Gophers who live in canal and ditch banks tend to ruin the integrity of the banks in which they live and may cause complete failure of the retention system resulting in great disaster.

Acknowledgment:


• Case, R. M., 1994. Pocket gophers: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Department of Forestry, Fisheries
  and Wildlife. University of Nebraska
  
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Pocket Gophers and Pocket Gopher Control - Part 6 of 11 - Pocket Gopher Facts

This article may be viewed in its entirety on our website Vole control, Mole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home. Select your desired link from the "Critter Confused" navigation box on the left.

Our Gopher & Pocket Gopher guides contain the same information (they're the same animal): If you've read one, you will not learn anything new in the other. Both are listed for site search purposes.

• The pocket gopher is often confused with the mole and vole due to habitat overlap and similar eating habits — Control methods differ for these three species; many people misidentify their target and often use improper techniques in their abatement efforts.
  
• Pocket Gophers expel the soil they excavate from the burrow in a fan shape radiating away from the burrow opening. They will use both their claws and teeth while digging, pushing the soil and debris behind them with their hind claws, then flip over in a somersault motion and push the material out of the burrow with their forefeet and chest.
  
• A single pocket gopher can dig a burrow system consisting of up to 200 yards of tunnel in a year displacing as much as 2 ¼ tons of soil.
  
• Pocket gophers do not hibernate and are active throughout the year. They are most prolific in their mound building spring through fall, though some species will be less productive during summer months.
  
• Contrary to popular belief, studies have shown that pocket gophers are active throughout the day.
  
• The pocket gopher’s burrow system will typically consist of a main burrow with a number of laterals branching off from it. Systems found to be linear rather than branched are believed to belong to a male pocket gopher searching for a mate.
  
• Burrow diameters tend to be around 3 inches; areas larger than this diameter are believed to be resting or feeding areas.
  
• The nesting area of the pocket gopher will be filled with grass and other plant debris that the pocket gopher has formed into a ball — Some as deep as 5 or 6 feet underground.
  
• Pocket gophers live solitary lives. Exceptions to this rule occur during mating season, and when the female is raising her young.
  
• Pocket Gophers that reside in the more northern locations generally have 1 litter per year. Pocket gophers living in southern locals usually have 2. Some pocket gophers found in California may breed year—round.
  
• Litter sizes can range from 1 to 10 but usually average 3 or 4 young per litter. In areas where the pocket gopher has more than one breeding cycle per year, the litter sizes tend to be smaller.
  
• The teeth of the pocket gopher continuously grow to accommodate the near constant wear and tear exerted upon them.
  
• Pocket Gophers can exert up to 18,000 pounds per square inch with their bite
  

Acknowledgment:


• Case, R. M., 1994. Pocket gophers: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Department of Forestry, Fisheries
  and Wildlife. University of Nebraska
  
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Pocket Gophers and Pocket Gopher Control - Part 5 of 11 - What Pocket Gophers Eat

This article may be viewed in its entirety on our website Vole control, Mole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home. Select your desired link from the "Critter Confused" navigation box on the left.

Our Gopher & Pocket Gopher guides contain the same information (they're the same animal): If you've read one, you will not learn anything new in the other. Both are listed for site search purposes.

Pocket gophers are voracious herbivores; although they tend to prefer forbs and roots the pocket gopher will eat nearly any type of plant it comes across including grasses, shrubs, seedlings, and trees. Any animal matter consumed in its diet would most likely have been ingested by accident.

Pocket gophers are most likely to consume your plants in one of the following ways:

• Root feeding on plants they come across while foraging for food or searching for a mate. The pocket gopher commonly will clip the roots off below the surface where the damage done is not apparent. Occasionally the pocket gopher will clip the base of a plant to just above the surface.
  
• Pulling your plants down into their tunnel from below.
  
• Occasionally the pocket gopher will venture up to a body length from its burrow opening to consume surface vegetation. This activity only seems to happen during the growing season.
  

Acknowledgment:


• Case, R. M., 1994. Pocket gophers: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Department of Forestry, Fisheries
  and Wildlife. University of Nebraska
  
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Pocket Gophers and Pocket Gopher Control - Part 4 of 11 - Where Pocket Gophers Live

This article may be viewed in its entirety on our website Vole control, Mole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home. Select your desired link from the "Critter Confused" navigation box on the left.

Our Gopher & Pocket Gopher guides contain the same information (they're the same animal): If you've read one, you will not learn anything new in the other. Both are listed for site search purposes.

Pocket Gophers exist in a wide range of living conditions: pocket gophers are found in geographical elevations ranging from lowland costal areas, to mountains in excess of 12,000 feet amidst a wide array of soil types and climate conditions.

Pocket Gophers cannot survive in dense, heavy clay or continuously saturated soils. They require light-textured or loose conglomerate soil types that will allow gases to pass and water to drain. The transfer of exhaled gases to the surface and the introduction of fresh air to the burrow through the soil are a necessity for pocket gopher survival. In very sandy soil conditions the pocket gopher will tend to dig its tunnels to a depth where there is sufficient moisture in the soil to preserve the integrity of the burrow.

The pocket gopher can reside in a fairly rocky habitat; burrowing around rocks greater than 1 inch in diameter while pushing smaller rocks to the surface. In this particular environment, the area the pocket gopher inhabits will tend to not have more than 10% rocks in the top 8 inches of soil.

Environments that do not provide more than 4 inches of soil may limit the presence of pocket gophers for two reasons: the lack of enough soil to provide an insulating layer may prove too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter (in areas without snow to provide insulation) for the pocket gopher to tolerate.

Soil type and consistency greatly influence the size and distribution of pocket gophers. Many of the larger types of pocket gopher are generally only found east of the Rocky Mountains where soil tends to be composed mostly of sand and silt. Pocket Gophers appear to be "built" for the conditions they reside in and are not inclined to wander or mingle with other pocket gopher genera. As a rule, usually only one species of pocket gopher will be found to reside in a geographical location.

Acknowledgment:


• Case, R. M., 1994. Pocket gophers: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Department of Forestry, Fisheries
  and Wildlife. University of Nebraska
  
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

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Pocket Gophers and Pocket Gopher Control - Part 3 of 11 - Pocket Gopher Geography

This article may be viewed in its entirety on our website Vole control, Mole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home. Select your desired link from the "Critter Confused" navigation box on the left.

Our Gopher & Pocket Gopher guides contain the same information (they're the same animal): If you've read one, you will not learn anything new in the other. Both are listed for site search purposes.

Pocket gophers are found only in the Western Hemisphere ranging from Panama in the south to Alberta in the north.

• Plains pocket gophers (Geomys bursarius) are found in the central plains from Canada south through Texas and Louisiana.
  
• Botta’s pocket gophers (Thomomys bottae) are found in most of the southern half of the western United States
  

• Northern pocket gophers (Thomomys talpoides) range throughout most of the states in the northern half of the western United States
  
• Yellow-faced pocket gophers (Pappogeomys castanops) occur form Mexico, along the western edge of Texas, eastern New Mexico, southeastern Colorado, southwestern Kansas, and into the panhandle of Oklahoma.
  

• Southeastern pocket gophers (Geomys pinetis) are found in northern and central Florida, southern Georgia, and southeastern Alabama.
  
• Southern pocket gophers (Thomomys umbrinus) range primarily in Central America, but occur in extreme southwestern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona.
  
• Desert pocket gophers (Geomys arenarius) occur only in southwestern New Mexico and the extreme western edge of Texas.
  
• Mazama pocket gophers (Thomomys mazama), mountain pocket gophers (Thomomys monticola), and Camas pocket gophers (Thomomys bulbivorus) have more limited distributions in the extreme western United States.
  

Acknowledgment:


• Case, R. M., 1994. Pocket gophers: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Department of Forestry, Fisheries
  and Wildlife. University of Nebraska
  
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Our Latest Links:

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at Birdhouse Best SellersThese discount birdhouses are well crafted and exquisitely designed to bring years of nesting pleasure to your feathery friends. We carry a large selection of decorative birdhouses ranging from Noah's Ark to a wedding chapel.

Pocket Gophers and Pocket Gopher Control - Part 2 of 11 - ID Your Pocket Gopher

This article may be viewed in its entirety on our website Vole control, Mole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home. Select your desired link from the "Critter Confused" navigation box on the left.

Our Gopher & Pocket Gopher guides contain the same information (they're the same animal): If you've read one, you will not learn anything new in the other. Both are listed for site search purposes.

Pocket Gophers are often referred to as pocket gophers due to the presence of fur lined pouches found on either side of their mouth. The pocket gopher has the ability to turn these pockets inside out and uses them to carry food. Their small eyes and ears leave them with extremely poor sight and sound attributes and heavy dependence on their sense of touch. The pocket gopher’s whiskers function as a part of this sense of touch; they are very sensitive and aid them in their subterranean travels. The pocket gopher’s bald tail also helps the pocket gopher in its navigation when it moves in reverse. The tail also has the secondary function of helping it to regulate its body temperature.

Pocket Gophers range in size from about 5 to 14 inches long with males typically larger than females. Pocket Gopher fur is very soft, fine, and can be found in a wide range of colors from black to brown to very nearly white. The wide range in coloration and size is attributed to the pocket gopher’s adaptation to its immediate surroundings and its lack of desire to leave them – The pocket gopher does not travel and tends to live a solitary life.

The United States is home to 13 species of pocket gopher that hail from three genera (the locations where these particular pocket gophers live can be found on our Pocket Gopher Geography page. The sketches below display and point out the differences between these three pocket gopher genera.

Thomomys

• Smooth-faced incisors
  
• Small forefeet with small claws
  
• Thomomys talpoides are 6.5 to 10 inches long and typically have yellow-brown fur that is pale on the underside of their body
  
• Thomomys bottae vary in size from 5 to 13.5 inches long and may be found in any color from white to black.
  

Geomys

• Two grooves on each upper incisor
  
• Large forefeet with large claws
  
• Geomys bursarius vary from 7.5 to 14 inches long and color from brown to black
  
• Geomys arenarius 8.5 to 11 inches long and always found with brown fur
  
• Geomys personatus 8.5 to 13 inches long, also always found with brown fur
  
• Geomys pinetis 9 to 13.5 inches long and may have various shades of brown colored fur.
  

Pappogeomys

• Single groove on each upper incisor
  
• Large forefeet with large claws
  
• Typically have yellow fur on face
  
• Vary in length from 5 ½ to 7 ½ inches long
  
• Coloring varies from pale yellow to dark reddish brown
  
• Some hair on back and top of head may be dark tipped
  

Acknowledgment:


• Case, R. M., 1994. Pocket gophers: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Department of Forestry, Fisheries
  and Wildlife. University of Nebraska
  
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

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Pocket Gophers and Pocket Gopher Control - Part 1 of 11 - The Pocket Gopher

This article may be viewed in its entirety on our website Vole control, Mole control, Gopher control: Crittergetteronline Home. Select your desired link from the "Critter Confused" navigation box on the left.

Our Gopher & Pocket Gopher guides contain the same information (they're the same animal): If you've read one, you will not learn anything new in the other. Both are listed for site search purposes.

The pocket gopher is often confused with the vole or the mole because of the similarities they share in their burrowing technique, however, all of these creatures leave their own exclusive calling cards that can be used to differentiate between them. The pocket gopher’s calling card can be found in the way the pocket gopher creates its mounds. A pocket gopher mound will typically be found in a fan shape radiating outward from a focal point that is usually readily apparent.

The pocket gopher is a voracious herbivore; it is often the usual culprit when it comes to plant damage and the definite perpetrator when plants disappear. The majority of mole species only cause plant damage when foraging for insects and grubs near the plants roots but will not eat the plant itself. Voles will often stop to "snack" on vegetation found in the creation of their burrow, but foraging for food underground is not their typical practice.

Pocket Gophers can be found from sea level up to 12,000 ft, residing in a wide range of soil conditions varying from rocky to loose conglomerate, but will avoid wet, saturated, or heavy clay settings. Depending on soil conditions, a single pocket gopher can dig a burrow system consisting of up to 200 yards of tunnel in a year displacing as much as 2 ¼ tons of soil.

Like moles and voles, pocket gophers do not hibernate, and are active throughout the day.

Acknowledgment:


• Case, R. M., 1994. Pocket gophers: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Department of Forestry, Fisheries
  and Wildlife. University of Nebraska
  
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

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