i have 3 dogs that roam in the yard when im out there. if i thought it was a issue, i wouldnt let them out there. as the snow starts to melt, each spring, i keep a eye out to make sure there isnt anything the dogs could get into. so far so good. to be on the safe side though i will look into safer alternatives.
I have heard lots of folks suggest stomping down the snow around the base of young trees to make it harder for voles to tunnel.
My trees are wrapped in hardware cloth 18 inches high but there is now at least a foot of snow above the mesh. When stomped the snowline moves down to right where the hardware cloth ends and I worry that the compressed snow would be the perfect platform for a vole to sit on while nibbling bark.
Should I leave the snow in place or stomp it down?
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Get the snow away from the trees asap they will tunnel right through it. They like cover even if it is just snow. If you have more screen etc go higher in case you get drifts. Rabbits will walk across the snow.
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ty, I will bust out the snowshoes tomorrow and get to work!
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i put out 12in sections of 2in pvc with 1 end duct taped and a piece of tomcat rodenticide in it. i place them about 30yrds apart all around the perimeter of my property the day before the 1st good snow. they find it under the snow. eat some and crawl in a den to die. come spring i never see any dead ones and i dont have any damage. they seem to like the peanut butter flavored ones. lots of them little bastards this year. seen lots of early tracks in a few light snows. hopefully my bait does them in quick.
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3-4’ aluminum window screen or hardware cloth solves the vole and bunny issues here.
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