See Vole City

**"* P* D* <m*@dargan.com>**

Vole Control:  The vole population extinguished many of our fine hostas
& irises this past winter year.  I actually stepped (ahem, stomped!) on
a vole last week with vengence...The farmers here say that the toxic
roots of hellebores are an excellent deterent to voles. Years ago, I'd
interplanted hellebores and hostas from a design standpoint and REALLY
think this protected a particularly large and important patch of Frances
Wlliams and Sum and Substance (area 80x20') in front of our house. A
biologic mole (and vole?) control product I picked up at a GWAA meeting
called Mole Poppers is interesting. Has anyone had experience?

Vole Cats: We have 2 overly-productive, yearling barn cats my husband
got to control the vole population. While we were in England, the
kitties perfected a game called "Gladiator" (discovered  in our guest
bathtub by a guest). We were ready to murder the cats. Being new to the
breed, I chanced to read in Country LIfe (British) that a very, well-fed
outdoor/indoor cat will cease bringing as many live morsels into the
house. So, by feeding our kitties (Penelope Hobhouse and Rosemary Verey)
EXACTLY the kind of food they wanted (Friskies Shredded Fish), they
actually stopped the chipmunk/baby bunny/bird torture thing. Although,
still seen circling trees licking their chops at Northern Parula and
Song Sparrow babies, Rosy and Penny really don't fetch as much birds
inside. Voles are still fair game, despite the Friskies Fix.

Cat Door: We travel alot and have a cat door. Our vole extermination/
cat predator coping experience next involved the racoon (and possum)
population that decided they liked Friskies Shredded Fish too...and they
didn't stop at the pantry...I found loose trail mix from a backpack in
my bedroom and racoon footprints on our master bedroom sink! Icky-woo. 
A whole family of racoons was trapped (by Trapper Dargan) and relocated
20 miles away (our vet's recommendation). The possum wasn't as easy and
actually quite nasty about the  experience. 

Anyway, for what its worth. We decided to keep the cats and adapt. I
forgot to mention the bobcat that mauled Rosy? Luckily, it didn't come
thru the cat door too! 

I'm posting a sign reading "See Vole City" on our garden slope in
Western North Carolina.

Cheerio, Mary Palmer Dargan

On Thu, 2 Aug 2007 12:17:20 -0400, "Renee Beaulieu"
<renee.beaulieu@gmail.com> said:
> When vole populations skyrocket, they can destroy decades-old plantings
> quickly. Since they're eating roots, not just tops, the plants are
> goners.
> 
> A few years back, the Rock Garden Society published an article with
> advice
> on control. Bait mouse traps with peanut butter, and place them near exit
> holes -- then cover the hole AND the trap with an empty, inverted flower
> pot
> (weighted down with a rock if necessary). This keeps squirrels etc out of
> the traps. Because the trap is in the dark, the voles  are less timid
> about
> approaching the bait. Check traps daily and reset.
> 
> This technique is most effective late in the season, when the voles are
> actively storing food for the winter. Try to locate and bait every hole
> you
> can. You may find some traps never sprung, because the tunnel is no
> longer
> active, hence the need to try to cover as many as possible. It's
> labor-intensive, but your hostas will thank you.
> 
>  Good luck!
> 
> Renée
> 
> Renée Beaulieu
> 2882 Erie Avenue
> Cincinnati, OH 45208
> renee.beaulieu@gmail.com
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-- 
Mary Palmer Dargan, ASLA, APLD, RLA, CLARB
Author, Timeless Landscape Design (Gibbs-Smith, Feb 2007) sold out in 30 days!
mpdargan@dargan.com 800-454-3889 ext 4 & 404-354-1715cell Dargan Landscape Architects

Tip: Visit English gardens by Sir Harold Peto at Buscot and Iford in Wiltshire and Avon, also must see Sir Roy Strong's formal garden at the Lasket in Herefordshire (by appointment)

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