Dispersing young animals are especially likely to invade, hence, strategies to keep rodent densities low in refugia can help reduce crop damage. Snap traps can be used to reduce vole populations, but are labor-intensive and not very practical over large acreages. They are used mostly for population monitoring and for research purposes. They can be used, however, where the use of rodenticides is not allowed or desirable. Traps should be placed throughout the area of active vole colonies with a trap spacing of about 3 m between traps.
Encouraging predation is another way to reduce vole populations.
While this approach may help reduce the problem, it will not be effective by itself. Habitat manipulation has long been used as a way to lower the carrying capacity for voles. Voles need tall, protective vegetative cover. Mowing, burning, grazing, plowing and herbicide spraying have all been used effectively to reduce vole populations. Some of these methods could be applied to no-till agriculture fields.