Meadow voles are often mistaken for mice at first glance, but a closer look reveals some clear differences. Voles have a stockier, rounder body than a house mouse or deer mouse, typically 3.5 to 5 inches long, with a notably short tail, usually less than 2 inches, small eyes, and small ears that are partly hidden in their fur. Their coloring is a dense, grizzled brown to blackish-brown on top with a grayish underbelly, and their blunt nose and short legs give them a more compact, burrowing build compared to the sleeker, larger-eared mice found indoors.
Unlike house mice and roof rats, meadow voles are primarily an outdoor, landscape-oriented pest in Los Angeles and Orange County yards and gardens rather than an indoor invader. They favor areas with dense ground cover, thick turf, mulch beds, and overgrown vegetation, where they create visible surface runways, shallow trails worn into grass, connecting to a network of shallow burrows. Well-irrigated lawns, ground cover plantings, and gardens with heavy mulch offer voles the cover and food they need to establish a foothold close to the soil surface.
Voles feed on grass, roots, bulbs, and the bark at the base of young trees and shrubs, and their girdling of bark can seriously damage or kill ornamental plants and fruit trees. Their runways and burrow openings can leave unsightly trails through lawns and can undermine root systems in garden beds. While voles aren’t a threat to the structure of a home the way rodents that nest indoors can be, they can cause frustrating, ongoing damage to landscaping investments.
Guarantee Pest Control has helped Los Angeles and Orange County homeowners protect their lawns and gardens from meadow voles since 1958. Our family-owned team knows the landscaping patterns common in yards throughout Long Beach, Norwalk, and beyond, and our technicians will inspect your property’s runways and burrows before recommending an effective treatment plan, including eco-friendly Guarantee Green options. Every service includes a free estimate, no-penalty cancellation, and a 3-month guarantee on most services. Call 1-800-507-3787 or request a free estimate today.