Vole damage may severely damage or kill small trees. Pine voles spend a much greater part of their time underground and eat a much larger portion of roots and tubers than meadow and prairie voles. Voles also cause damage by clipping and feeding on other plants we value. They eat leaves, shoots, roots, tubers and seeds of most grasses and forbs, or broadleafed flowering plants. Voles can damage or consume flower bulbs, garden plants and vegetables, field crops and forage crops.
Voles can damage lawns by constructing runways and clipping grass very close to the roots.
Though the damage done usually is not permanent, it may detract from the appearance of a well-kept lawn. Damage Identification Signs found at the damage scene will help you identify the species at fault. The runways consist of closely clipped vegetation, about one to two inches wide. Surface runway system of the prairie vole. Vole damage to woody plants usually occurs during late fall through early spring.