Vole burrow systems also ruin lawns, golf courses, and ground covers. Because of their lack of contact with man, voles are not a species which pose a major public health hazard. Girdling and gnaw marks alone are not necessarily indicative of the presence of voles since other animals, such as jackrabbits, may cause similar damage. Vole girdling can be differentiated by the lack of uniformity of the gnaw marks. Rabbit gnaw marks, on the other hand, are larger and not distinct.
Rabbits neatly clip branches with oblique clean cuts.
Damage Prevention and Control Methods Exclusion Hardware cloth cylinders have been used to exclude voles from seedlings and young trees. Voles are good diggers, therefore you should bury the wire at least six inches to discourage them from burrowing under. Cultural Methods Cultural and habitat modification practices can reduce the likelihood and severity of vole damage. Weeds, ground cover, and litter provide food and cover for the voles. Eliminating them in and around crops, lawns, and cultivated areas will reduce the capacity of these areas to support voles.