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Voles and mice are small rodents that consume fruit directly. They can also cause damage by chewing on stems; voles chew on root systems during winter. Complete girdling of stems and roots is possible, especially during harsh winters. Look for golf ball-sized tunnels or the actual runway paths used by the animals.

Vole.

(Photo: Andrew G Hope, US Geological Survey)

Vole tunnel entrance.

(Photo: Elizabeth Bush, Virginia Tech, Bugwood.org)

Management:

• Place snap traps at openings of vole tunnels or around bases of plants (small production systems).
• Use zinc phosphide bait during late autumn to reduce overwinter populations and risks of winter plant damage (larger systems). 

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