Close mowing and weed control in grassy borders adjacent to agricultural Crops will reduce the habitat for voles and should reduce damage. Predators will not likely keep an orchard vole-free, but they can help reduce the vole population. Orchardists should tolerate predators and protect them if they do not constitute a pest problem. Vexar plastic-mesh cylinders. This barrier should project 18 inches above the ground and 3 to 6 inches below the surface.
Little data are available on the effectiveness of repellents to deter vole damage.
However, in one study thiram was reported to reduce damage to apple stems by 78 percent. A 20 percent solution of chicken eggs in water has been effective in reducing deer and elk browsing and may reduce damage by voles. Thiram is manufactured by various companies and sold under various trade names. Most labels limit the use of thiram on fruit trees to the dormant season. Limit application to fruit-bearing plants before fruit sets or after the fruit is harvested.