Using a bait applicator that is used only for that purpose, place the amount of bait recommended on the product label in runways or next to burrows so voles will find it during their normal travels. When broadcasting bait, be sure to spread it evenly over the infested area. If you use this technique, you will probably have to broadcast every other day for a total of 3 or 4 applications. Repellents Commercial repellents are available for protecting plants from voles but their effectiveness is highly variable and their use is often not practical. They must be applied before damage occurs.
Voles usually damage plants at or just beneath the soil surface, making adequate coverage difficult.
Because repellents may be washed off by rain, sprinklers, or even heavy dew, you must reapply them for continued protection. Do not apply repellents to food crops unless such use is specified on the product label. However, in most cases predators cannot keep vole populations below damaging levels. Many predators simply do not hunt close to homes and gardens where control is needed. Most predators have a broad-based diet and readily shift to alternative prey when the number of voles declines.