PesthighMar–Nov

Water vole

Arvicola terrestris

This description was machine-translated.

How to spot it

The water vole, commonly called a burrowing vole, lives underground and feeds on roots, tubers and the bark at the root collar. Typical are flat, arched mounds of soil in rows as well as tunnels close beneath the surface. Affected plants wilt abruptly or can be pulled up without effort, because the roots have already been gnawed away. On young fruit trees an attack at the root collar can lead to the tree dying within a short time.

Prevention

Plant fruit trees and valuable perennials with a close meshed wire basket made of aviary mesh that encloses the root ball completely. Attract natural enemies such as weasels, owls and birds of prey into the garden, for example with perches and unmown margins. Check tunnels regularly with a garden spade and set mechanical traps at active runs. Keep the edges of beds mown short so that voles lose their cover, and plant sensitive tubers in close meshed soil baskets.