This NebGuide provides information about voles, the damage they cause, and ways to prevent and control damage problems.
Voles can cause problems by damaging lawns, gardens, tree plantings and other plants.
Prairie vole Voles are small, weighing one to two ounces as adults. Voles are an important food source for many predators, including snakes, hawks, owls, coyotes, weasels, foxes, mink and badgers. Mortality rates for voles are very high. Life expectancy in the wild often does not exceed two months, and few ever live longer than 16 months. Not surprisingly, voles are very prolific animals, although the pine vole is less so than meadow or prairie voles.