ZonePlant

Pest on crop

Vole Damage on red raspberry

Microtus species

Field voles and meadow voles girdle young fruit-tree trunks under snow cover during winter and chew root crops. The leading cause of mysterious orchard losses.

Pest
Vole Damage
Scientific name
Microtus species
Crop
Red Raspberry
Total hosts
17

Vole Damage on red raspberry

Detailed guidance for this section is being prepared. Check back soon.

Signs on red raspberry

  • Chewed bark at the base of trunks visible after snow melt, often killing trees outright
  • Surface runways through grass and mulch
  • Tunnels at the soil surface
  • Damage to root crops in storage and in-ground

IPM controls

  • Hardware-cloth trunk guards (1/4 inch mesh) extended 6 inches above expected snow line and 2 inches below soil
  • Keep mulch pulled back 6 inches from trunks during winter
  • Mow orchard floor short before snow accumulation eliminates cover
  • Snap traps under cover boards along runways
  • Encourage owls and hawks with perches and nest boxes

Other crops affected by vole damage

Related