Vole crop damage bigger than normal

Voles are damaging crops so badly this year they’re causing smaller yields for Idaho farmers.

Keith Evans is one of those farmers, facing thousands of dollars in losses with his crops. He said he lost 20 percent of each of his crops.

Evans grows potatoes, hay and other crops on his farms in Pingree. On Tuesday, he held two potatoes that looked like they went through the shredder thanks to vole activity.

“I wish they’d find something better to eat,” he said.

With the weather warmer than usual, the vole populations became bigger than usual, according to UI Extension researchers.

“We just haven’t had a winter cold enough and bad enough to keep them in check,” Evans said.

Walking in a small section of his potato field, it’s easy to find dozens upon dozens of vole runways and entry holes. Farmers have tried using poisons to mitigate the rodent, but it’s been hard to keep up with the bigger numbers this year.

“We’ve put poison out on the hay once and we were going to do it again,” Evans said. “I decided not to just for cost purposes.”

Several UI Extension researchers say fall is the best time to mitigate voles. Since fresh vegetation isn’t readily available, they’ll be more likely to eat bait.

You can find vole control information here.