Know a Humane Way to Get Rid of Voles in the Garden?

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Know a Humane Way to Get Rid of Voles in the Garden?

Submitted by: Nancy in Colarado 08/19/2009 11:06 PM

Do you have any suggestions for a humane way to get rid of voles in the garden? Have tried the environmentally friendly Swedish remedy deer repellent, Plantskydd, which did nothing except make the treated areas smell like a rendering plant when it rained. Voles excavated right next to treated areas overnight. They are eating the roots of wanted plants, but I don't want to poison them.

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Are voles related to moles? I heard daffodil bulbs will repel them.

Posted by anonymous on August 20, 2009 2:48 PM

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Research at Michigan State University found that 1 pint of Castor Oil in a 1 quart hose end sprayer filled with water and applied to 2,500 square feet would get rid of moles for between 6 and 8 weeks and then would need to be reapplied

Posted by anonymous on August 20, 2009 3:15 PM

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I got a couple of those little plastic whirrly fans from the dollar store and stuck those into the ground.. I was told that they dont like the vibration from the little fan going around...

Posted by Cheryl on August 20, 2009 4:14 PM

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Diatomaceous earth - sprinkle it around their runs and holes. It gets on their feet, and they don't like it! Doesn't really harm them, but they leave. It's a naturally occurring, soft, chalk-like sedimentary rock that is easily crumbled into a fine white to off-white powder. This powder has an abrasive feel, similar to pumice powder, and is very light, due to its high porosity. It is also used in grain storage, flour and other commercial products for insect control.

I paid about $11 for 20 pounds of FOOD QUALITY DE - use it in my house around baseboards and under (old house, pier and Beam foundation), around my flower beds, on my dog and in his food (worm control) and etc. It doesn't harm mammals, but insects carry it and eat it and it chews them up from the inside, since in the small and irregularly shaped, (read sharp edged).

Posted by Alice on August 20, 2009 4:38 PM

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I got a Jerry Baker book @ the thrift several year back. He was on PBS, I have had good results.

I tried the Mole chaser tonic

1& 1/2 tbsp. of Tabasco sauce

1 tsp. chili powder

1 tbsp. of liquid dish soap

1 qt of water

I mixed it in a Simply Orange juice container, we stepped on the vole hills or air holes. Then poured it on where we stepped.

With persistance between my husbands stepping and my pouring they choose to leave our yard.

Good luck, & watch your step..lol.

Posted by small town, Nebraska on August 22, 2009 7:01 PM

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an outdoor cat works perfectly

Posted by anonymous on August 30, 2009 1:25 PM

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We used wolf urine. You can purchase it at your garden supply store. It worked right away.

Posted by anonymous on September 06, 2009 6:50 PM

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MY DAUGHTER PUT UP THE LITTLE PIN - WHEELS ALL OVER HERE GARDEN AREA, AN FLOWER BEDS. IT WORKED THIS SPRING FOR HER AN IS STILL WORKING AS FAR AS I KNOW. I GUESSIT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE VIBERATION.

Posted by DIANE on September 17, 2009 4:03 AM

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I have heard that hair clippings work too. It makes them itch. You can go to the beauty shop or barber and get a days worth of clippings. Sprinkle the hair into the holes.

Posted by jjvancleef on September 28, 2009 1:36 PM

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Diatomaceous earth, where can one get the best deal at local stores????

Posted by pifwat on October 23, 2009 3:54 AM

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this works well,, get juicy fruit chewing gum,,sounds weird but does work, take off of paper and tear in half long ways and put long piece in their hole and they eat it and it doesnt digest,, it does kill them ,, sad but they do kill our yards,,

Posted by anonymous on January 20, 2010 8:52 PM

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I have used cat and dog poop to stuff into their holes with some success. The areas I have filled have been mole-free. However, I have about 2 acres of grass and many holes to fill. Plus I don't have enough ammunition from my small dog and cat to get rid of all the little critters.

Posted by Ellyn2 on March 16, 2010 6:26 PM

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