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Garden Gate:  Holy Moley Voles  |
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Kitty McCue
Farmgirl in Training
15 Posts
Kitty
Bozrah
Ct06334
USA
15 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 27 2006 : 2:50:24 PM
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Voles have wrecked havoc on our gardens for the past 3 years. We used to have such a rich perennial garden we gave plants away. Now it's sparce and expensive to replace. We have 2 cats (no use), 2 dogs
(not scary enough). Sometimes the vole will leave a perfectly round hole with a leaf garnish on top just to remind you where that heirloom tomato plant was, you planted yesterday.
This is what hasn't worked;
gum,smokebombs,windmills,sonic vibration gagets,traps,oyster shells,lava rocks, gohper purge plants. Sometimes castor oil mixed with hot pepper sauce will work. I called UCONN ext. Service they said coyotes are voles natural preditors?? We have a few chickens and ducks who wander the yard so I'm afraid to use Poision. Any Suggestions ?? Thanks Kitty
Miss Kitty |
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MeadowLark
True Blue Farmgirl
2206 Posts
USA
2206 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2006 : 3:03:15 PM
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Hi Kitty, I'll be glad to ship you some coyotes...got plenty of those here. But I had the same problem a few years ago and someone told us to gas 'em...Carbon Monoxide fumes from car exhaust...hose hooked up to exhaust pipe, down the hole, and let the car idel run for about 20 minutes. It rid us of the voles that tore up our lawn. It sounds extreme but it does work when you run out of other options.
If I keep a green bough in my heart, the singing bird will come. |
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LadyCrystal
True Blue Farmgirl
593 Posts
Alicia
Rhode Island
USA
593 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2006 : 4:30:24 PM
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HI Kitty,
I am your neighbor in Rhode Island.We filled there holes with water.Just stuck the hose down and filled it up.It drowned them.But we also have coyotes here too.Good luck,
Alicia
http://fromcitytocountrygirl.blogspot.com/
follow your dreams |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
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Kitty McCue
Farmgirl in Training
15 Posts
Kitty
Bozrah
Ct06334
USA
15 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2006 : 06:24:53 AM
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Thanks for your help, The Voles are supposed to be vegatarian so I'm not sure if getting rid of grubs are the answer. I think moles like grubs and voles use their tunnels so many it will be a 2 for 1.
Thanks again Kitty
Miss Kitty |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2006 : 07:28:02 AM
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DUH -- I knew that!! Got the voles and moles mixed up! We have them here but the cats kill them so fast that they haven't done any damage to my yard. I've heard of people placing a screen barrier in the planting hole before they plant something. Supposed to help keep them from diggin underneat to get the plants.
http://therusticcottage.etsy.com
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/therusticcottage/
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
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Alaska farm girl
True Blue Farmgirl
123 Posts
dorothy
skagway
Alaska
USA
123 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2006 : 08:21:46 AM
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One year we had them so bad it was intertaining watching the dog going nuts with them running out from under her dog house!They were EVERYWHERE,and we had 2 cats,one very lazy and the female who was the huntress(sp)? Anyway,I started throwing both kitties outside early in the morning and NOT putting friskies in their dishes.They eventually realized I wasn't going to give in to thier sad mornfull meows and started doing their jobs.There were dead voles everywhere,with no heads.The kids found it VERY interesting! Anyway,I did eventually reward the cats with food!!
Make sure(if this works),kitties have all thier health shots. |
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Nancy Gartenman
True Blue Farmgirl
9093 Posts
Nancy
West Seneca
New York
USA
9093 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2006 : 08:37:16 AM
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Do you know I have never heard the word VOLES? Had to look it up. field mice. learn something every day, don't know how I missed that one. Grew up on a farm, we just called them field mice.
NANCY JO |
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crazymoose
Farmgirl in Training
38 Posts
Caryn
Auburn
WA
38 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2006 : 3:24:36 PM
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I have been told that voles taste bad. Cats may kill them but not usually eat them.
Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead. Louisa May Alcott |
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Kitty McCue
Farmgirl in Training
15 Posts
Kitty
Bozrah
Ct06334
USA
15 Posts |
Posted - May 03 2006 : 08:06:11 AM
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Thanks for all the great info. Ladies
Miss Kitty |
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Garden Gate: Holy Moley Voles |
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Holy Moley Voles
