Vole or Field Mouse?

Vole or Field Mouse?Is that creature running around your garden or lawn what you think it is? When we see rodents, very often we have a sudden negative reaction. The stereotypical reaction is to say, “Eek! A mouse!” But you might not actually be seeing a mouse. Field mice are a very common house pest here in the northeast, but there’s a creature that is often mistaken for a mouse that can also be spotted on your grounds. It’s called a vole, and if you can’t tell a vole from a field mouse, Arrow Exterminating is here to help.

Arrow Exterminating Can Help Control Your Rodent Problem

Not only can we identify a lot of pests at Arrow, we know how to keep them away. If you have a rodent problem, we can take care of it. At this time of year, many issues related to rodents come from an in-house infestation. Mice can damage your home by gnawing on your food supply and they also carry disease. Arrow will come to your home and take care of this problem. We serve Nassau and Suffolk County as well as the 5 boroughs of New York City. We can help if you have field mice or voles. We want to tell you a bit about these creatures and how to tell the difference between them.

Field Mice and Voles 101 

Field mice aren’t a specific species, and the name can be applied to several types of mice. Here on Long Island it very often refers to the deer mouse. According to Pet Wiki, they have either golden brown or reddish brown coats with white feet and chest. They have large protruding eyes, weigh about half an ounce to an ounce and they have 2.5-inch tails. Their ears span about 4 inches in length and have little fur. Field mice eat seeds, berries and other small fruits, beetles, grasshoppers, and underground fungus.

Voles do resemble mice, but there are differences, according to Cornell Cooperative Extension. They have stouter bodies and they have shorter tails which have more hair. Voles also have smaller eyes and ears than mice. They like to stay hidden from their predators and are active both day and night. For example, they will travel under snow cover. Voles like to eat woody plants by gnawing around the circumference of them. Very often property owners won’t discover what has happened until the snow melts. They may discover that there are 2-inch-wide runways where the vole has been, along with damaged grass that has been beaten down. Another thing that will happen once spring starts is the discovery of dead woody plants.

Let Arrow Exterminating Diagnose Your Pest Problem

If you notice any of the signs that mice or vole have been on your property, you can protect your home, business or grounds by relying on the experts at Arrow Exterminating. We will walk your grounds and determine if you have a pest infestation and then work on a solution. We’ll give you ideas on how to remediate the problem and prevent it from recurring. To get started, contact Arrow today.

Are Voles and Field Mice the Same Thing? Serving Long Island and surrounding areas

Richmond | Kings | Nassau County | Suffolk County

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