Any tall grass between the trees will likely be a haven for pine and meadow vole. It is also beneficial to keep a clean-tilled strip about 150 to 200 feet wide around the orchard to discourage meadow voles from moving in. Herbicide strips or circles around trees can also be effective in reducing pine and meadow vole populations. Herbicide strips alone will not eliminate vole damage, but when combined with rodenticides, they are an effective part of an overall control program. Another useful nonchemical practice is to encourage vole predators to move into your orchard.
Wild cats are useful, as are predatory birds.
Currently there are two types of chemical baits available for vole control in apple and peach orchards. Choosing among these baits should be based upon the target vole species. Although these chemicals will provide some control of both vole species, zinc phosphide has been shown to be more effective against the meadow vole, while chlorophacinone and diphacinone have been shown to be more effective against the pine vole. Zinc phosphide baits are marketed either as weather-resistant pellets or combined with several types of grains, such as cracked corn and oats. When vole populations are very high, an additional application of zinc phosphide may be made within 1 to 2 months.