A vole is a small rodent often confused with a common house mouse, but it prefers outdoor habitats like fields and gardens. Voles are generally not indoor pests, but they can enter a structure under specific, rare circumstances. Entry usually occurs accidentally or as a direct result of environmental pressure, such as extreme weather or a lack of accessible resources. Recognizing the difference between a vole and a mouse is important, as their motivations for entering a home are different.
Vole Versus Mouse Identification
The most reliable way to distinguish a vole from a house mouse involves observing a few key physical features. Voles have stockier, more compact bodies and appear much rounder than the slender house mouse. The tail provides the quickest identifier: a house mouse has a long, scaly, nearly hairless tail that is roughly the same length as its body. In contrast, a vole’s tail is short, typically one to two inches long, and is covered in fur, giving it a stubby appearance.
Voles also have a rounded, blunt snout, smaller eyes, and ears that are often obscured by their fur. This contrasts with the house mouse, which has prominent, rounded ears that stick out and a pointed snout. Outside the home, a clear sign of vole activity is the presence of surface runways—narrow, well-worn paths through the grass—and small burrow holes, reflecting their preference for ground-level tunneling.
What Draws Voles Indoors
While voles prefer outdoor environments where they feed on plants, roots, and grasses, certain conditions motivate them to seek temporary indoor shelter. The primary motivator is a search for refuge during inhospitable seasons, such as severe cold, heavy snow, or flooding. Voles do not hibernate, remaining active year-round, and may seek warmth or dry ground when their outdoor burrows become untenable.
They may also be looking for stored food sources near the ground level, such as pet food, spilled birdseed, or dry goods. Voles are poor climbers, meaning they gain access through openings close to the ground. These entry points include gaps around utility lines, damaged foundation vents, or open garage and basement doors. Sometimes, a vole’s digging behavior in search of warmth unintentionally leads its tunnels into a structure.
Strategies for Vole Exclusion
Preventing voles from entering a home requires focusing on physical barriers and habitat modification around the foundation. All potential entry points near the ground should be sealed, as voles can fit through openings as small as a dime. Homeowners should use durable materials like hardware cloth or copper mesh to cover foundation vents or fill small holes, then use caulk or expanding foam to seal the area.
Modifying the landscaping immediately surrounding the house makes the area less attractive to voles seeking cover and food. Keeping the grass trimmed short is helpful, as voles prefer areas with dense ground cover. Removing piles of leaves, mulch, or wood debris near the foundation eliminates potential nesting sites and shelter. Bird feeders should also be altered or removed to reduce spilled seed, which is a major food attractant.