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

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 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
  

Our Latest Links:

Gopher control, Vole control, Mole control at Reseller NameJump into the fast pced, lucrative domain name and services business. Build your own successful online business – become a Basic Reseller! reseller.name, provides the very best combination of pricing, products and support available anywhere!

Voles and Vole Control - Part 8 of 11 - Vole 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.

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

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 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.

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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
  

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

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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