What Does Vole Poop Look Like? Pictures

These lively little creatures can thrive in almost any environment where food is plentiful and predators are few.

Voles are so widespread that some species have adapted to the presence of humankind and even take up residence in our homes during winter months.

Voles that reside in your home may be less than endearing, especially if you find yourself with a mounting pile of their poop, you’ll want to call a cleaning company or clean it right away.

However, vole excrement is not nearly as gross as it sounds. Coprophagia is the practice of eating excrement; therefore, vole poo is simply their excrement!

Here’s what vole poop looks like, along with some other interesting facts about these rodents.

 

Voles Are Nocturnal?

Although voles are active year-round, they are primarily nocturnal rodents. This means that they are most active at night when they can avoid predators and other dangers and feed in relative safety.

Voles are herbivores and will eat almost any plant matter, with a few exceptions. Some species are known to feed on insects and small reptiles, while others consume fungi and carrion in extreme circumstances.

Voles are excellent swimmers, and they are able to survive in water for long periods of time by holding their breath.

 

Read also: What does toad poop look like pictures? Toad Poop Identification

 

What Does Vole Poop Look Like?

Vole poo looks like small, dark pellets. The color of the excrement varies depending on the species of voles in the area. Some voles are red-brown or black; others are grey, white, or even blue!

Despite this variance in color, vole feces are all about the same size. This consistency in pellet size is useful for identifying whether or not voles are in your backyard.

Vole droppings are very small, measuring only 1/8 inch in diameter on average. If you find a large pile of rodent poop in your yard, it is unlikely to be vole droppings.

Rabbits, squirrels, and other larger mammals leave much larger fecal pellets. Voles are very small creatures, rarely growing to more than 6 inches in length.

The tail of a vole is about the same length as its body, so the total length of a vole is around 6 inches when including the tail.

 

Read also: Squirrel Droppings: What Does Squirrel Poop Look Like?

 

Pictures of Vole Poop

Below are pictures of vole poop or vole poop pictures;

 

Read also: Squirrel Poop Looks Like What? | Exposed

 

Why Do Voles Eat Their Poop?

This is certainly one of the most bizarre, yet fascinating, facts about voles. The reason why voles eat their excrement is a bit of a mystery, but many researchers think that it is a source of vitamins and minerals.

It is also possible that voles are simply using their own poop as fertilizer since they use underground burrows that are filled with nutritious soil.

Some research has found that eating vole poop can help ward off parasites and promote general health and well-being in the animals that do it. However, it can also be a sign of an illness or nutritional deficiency.

Voles are considered pests in many areas since they are known to eat crops, vegetables, and other garden plants.

They can even eat wooden structures and electrical wiring, causing expensive damage to homes and farms. There are many different ways to get rid of voles.

 

Read also: What does Mouse Poop Look Like? Mouse Droppings

 

Where to Find Vole Poop?

If you are concerned that a vole infestation is taking place in your yard or garden, you can look for vole poop to help determine if it is necessary to take action against the rodents.

Vole droppings can be found in the soil at the bases of plants. They are also sometimes left on the surface of lawns and gardens.

If you spot vole droppings on plants, you should be cautious about ingesting the leaves or other edible parts of the plant.

Vole droppings are not dangerous to humans, but they can be an indication that other, more dangerous, pests are in your area.

If you find vole droppings in your garden and you have a lot of them, it can be a sign that you have a vole infestation.

Voles tend to leave their droppings in one central location, so you should be able to find a large number of pellets in one place.

 

When You Should Be Concerned About Vole Poop?

The presence of vole droppings in your yard or garden is not always a bad sign. Voles are considered pests, but they are also one of the most prolific mammals in the world.

In fact, they are known as the “plague pests” because they are so widespread and difficult to control. Voles are present in almost every area of the world, including northern latitudes, mountainous regions, and even deserts.

There is a species of vole that can even survive in the Arctic, so it is one rodent that can survive almost any climate.

There are two species of voles that are found in the United States, the meadow vole and the red-tailed vole.

Both of these species are considered pests and can be difficult to control. If you find vole droppings in your yard, you should be careful about the other ways that voles can damage your property.

Voles can cause significant damage to gardens and crops, as well as electrical wiring. They can also carry parasites that are harmful to humans and pets, so it is important to remove them from your property.

 

How to Get Rid of Vole

There are several ways to get rid of voles. Since they are most active in the late afternoon and evening, you can catch them during their most vulnerable period.

1. Place some traps near the areas where you have seen voles, such as along the base of plants and in the soil.
2. Vole traps are simple but effective and easy to make.
3. You can find the instructions on the pack, or you can purchase commercial traps at many garden stores.
4. If you do use traps, be sure to check them regularly, as you do not want to leave the trapped voles in the sun or let them suffer needlessly.
5. You can also use pesticides to get rid of voles, but be careful to choose an organic solution that is safe for humans and pets.
6. Always read the instructions carefully and apply pesticides during the evening hours, when voles are most active.

 

Conclusion

Voles are fascinating creatures that are important for ecological balance. They are herbivores that eat a significant amount of vegetation, including many garden weeds.

While they can decrease biodiversity, they can also be helpful when they eat noxious weeds and plants like thistles.

Voles can be harmful to humans in a few ways, but they can also be helpful when they eat harmful plants. If you spot vole droppings in your yard, you can take the necessary precautions to protect your home and garden.

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