Some info in the link below. Sounds like their population has expanded, probably because of the mild winter, and there doesn't seem to be an easy way of dealing with them, although a cat would help, probably

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=792

That link doesn't say they eat roots, but other info on the web suggests they do, and I'm guessing they may chew on roots to get them out of the way for their tunnels, if not for food. Bulbs would be at high risk though...

Hi Bamboo,

thanks .. I thought hard to control since they are living in burrows.

Reading the link I now know why part of my ivy died on the fence last year I thought it odd at the time as I have the same mix of varieties all along the fence and the 30 tulip bulbs I had planted only about 10 grew !!!

Since the cats got re homed next door the mouse population has grown and the voles !!! as all the others where I live are house cats and to precious to be let loose

Tennis Balls! Get some new ones, throw them down the holes and in the borders where they go. I listen to the "Paul Parent Gardening Club" out of Massachusetts and this is what they've been raving about. Brand new fuzzy tennis balls with that new rubbery smell will send the voles running for the hills. Once the voles are gone, your doggie has a new toy to play with - everybody wins!

Blimey, you must have big voles in the States - the tunnel entrance of ones we get in the UK is only 1.5 inches in size, barely big enough for a golf ball...

It has given me an idea though, but I'm not sure you can get napthalene mothballs any more, gnarlygnome - strikes me, if you inserted a mothball into each tunnel, that might well drive them away, but they would have to be the old fashioned, really smelly ones and would need replacing periodically. And I'm wondering about chili powder, possibly?

Chilli flakes would possibly work better and remain longer than the powder

Spearmint chewing gum is another possibility. Anything minty.

lots of ideas , I have enough tunnels to try them all

thanks ....

Gg

I'd be very interested in a follow-up. What worked, what didn't. I'm sure many would.

Ok ... I will collect stuff this week and let you know I need to do something !!!

Hopefully I haven't got a Vincent Van Gopher !!!

Gg

LOL! Dip him in paint and make him roll around on a canvas. You'll be living the high-life!

Mothballs I can remember my grandad using them, awful smell,lived on the edge of a small village and his garden backed onto fields, nice view but plagued with many visitors one doesn't want to share ones garden with, lots of the old fashioned remedies were the best, not allowed to use them now, not all are dangerous to our health, welfare or even our environment, elf-n-safety probably weakened the recipe or banned them entirely.

I've still got a stock of them, Lincslass, securely triple wrapped so I can't smell 'em - I used to use them all over the garden, squirrels didn't like them, these are what I've got left, just one pack... I'll probably never need 'em now, wonder if you can just put them in the rubbish or whether they're considered a no no... but the smell always make me think of my nan, who's 'best clothes' always smelt of lavender and mothballs...

LOL, my nanna as well and the cupboards and drawers if one was to open them, will admit I do have a Lavender Lady hanging in my bedroom and I can refresh the little pocket when she needs a refresher sachet....Been wondering if chilli flakes would drive away my resident mouse family from my bottom g'house, they live under the shed which is next to it and the mouse deterrent has no effect whatsoever, every year I think I've succeeded in getting rid but nope the beggars have returned, luckily I didn't put any bulbs in there this year....I have considered putting a cat flap in shed door and easing one of the floorboards up a bit, lol.....

;-))) laughed out loud...

That sounds awful. I've seen a documentary that said if you can see just one, that means you have hundreds hiding out.

Exactly Paul, one consolation is that we do have a long garden so they never make it up to my other g'house or into the house, don't know how they have the nerve to return here with all the cats living around this area....Guess we all feed our pets too much....

Those techniques don't work with rats. The colonies work as a unit and they multiply so quickly. Did you see the movie "Willard"? Check out the trailor on YouTube. LOL

Hi All

Thought it time to let you know the results (up to now) and taking in to account you all put your ideas forward I should at least play my part.

Moon grower: Chili flakes (huge bag) only £3.00

Bamboo: Moth balls which I managed to find on ebay the old type .. ..

Bathgate :golf ball

one side of the garden moth balls / golf ball , other side Chili flakes golf ball

Results:

Moon Grower: Chili Flakes , nothing happened for two days and then they re-burrowed not far from the original tunnel. (so it did work)

Bamboo: Mothballs , its totally cleared the area but I have a feeling they have moved over to the other side of the garden !!!

Bathgate: Golf ball, they burrowed around them !!!

thanks all

Gg

Hmm, well sounds like mothballs win the day - but could work out expensive if you've gotta put them all over and keep replacing them...

Worth it if it gets rid of the voles though

Thanks for the feedback Gg. However Bamboo mentioned the golf balls, not me. :)

Hi

well the hole was too small for a tennis ball so I had to drop it down a size so "Golf ball". so I still class as your idea .

Gg

they are unrelated, like tennis and golf.

well both round lol

Thanks for letting us know your results Gg...