Vole Repellent

About Vole Repellents

Vole repellents work by creating an unpleasant environment to voles by using ingredients that irritate their eyes, nose, mouth, and skin, or irritate other senses with bad tastes or smells. These products will not harm the voles, but work to discourage feeding, foraging, and living in your yard. They come in granules or liquid formulas that can be applied to plants and turf.

While ingredients will vary from product to product, generally repellent products will contain naturally derived ingredients like castor oil, sodium lauryl sulfate, and herb oils including rosemary, thyme, pepper, garlic, citronella, etc.

How To Use Vole Repellents

The best way to use vole repellents is to use them before voles establish a feeding routine. Making your yard as unwelcoming as possible will help prevent voles from moving in to your territory. While you should read and follow all instructions and warnings carefully, here are some tips to keep in mind when using vole repellents.

• Apply the repellent product to the area you wish to protect. If you want to protect edible garden plants, make sure you choose a repellent that can be applied to garden edibles. Since most of the damage will be to your plants, make sure you protect the prized plants thoroughly.
• If you choose a granular repellent, you will likely have to water in the product to allow it to penetrate and activate.
• Many repellent products will wash away or lose effectiveness after rain. Reapply when necessary.
• Repellent products have to be used consistently and reapplied often to maintain the repellent’s effectiveness and to keep that barrier present. This will take time and effort on your part, but will be worth it to avoid the damage voles can inflict.
• As food becomes scarcer in the colder months of the year, the less likely voles may care about treated areas and may feed on the protected plants anyways.
• It is important to use other preventative measures in conjunction with repellents for the most effective way to keep voles away. Keeping grass trimmed regularly, keeping lawn or property free of debris, and cleaning up any spilled birdseed or other food sources will cut down on shelter and food sources for voles.