Voles are small, mice-like critters that can cause severe damage to orchards, ornamentals and trees by girdling. Because of their size the damage they do is sometimes credited to mice, according to Ben West, Utah State University Extension wildlife associate, who adds that the girdling of woody plants is often blamed on rabbits. The small animal has a stockier body and much shorter tail than mice.
Rabbits make much larger gnaw marks that are neat and clean, according to West.
Voles usually eat grasses, forbs, roots, bark, snails and insects, and West says to find food, voles build tunnels and surface runways. They prefer heavy ground cover of grasses and grass-like plants or litter. West says eliminating weeds, ground cover and litter around lawns and ornamental plantings reduces habitat and can decrease vole damage. Cover should be cleared three feet or more from the base of trees. Cylinders of hardware cloth can protect individual plants and should be buried six inches below the ground surface.