Voles are no joke. They dig deep tunnels that make them hard to get rid of.
I know it can get irritating, especially when they start to go around and destroy your plants.
If you’re looking for was to finally get rid of these pests, you’ve come to the right place.
In this post, we’ll go over the best vole bait, traps, and repellents to help you remove voles from your home once and for all.
Let’s get started!
1. Repellex Mole, Vole, and Gopher Repellent – Best Vole Repellent
Pros
Works on a wide variety of moles, gophers, and voles
Non-toxic
User-friendly
Made of natural ingredients
Safe on pets
Reasonably priced
Gets absorbed easily
Comes in a large quantity
Cons
Granules are quite big
Harmful to plants and vegetables
Smells bad
Not safe for kids
Key Details
- Type of Trap: Granular
- Active Ingredients:
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- Castor Oil – 20.00%
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate – 10.00%
- Cinnamon Oil – 0.03%
- Garlic Oil – 0.03%
- White Pepper – 0.03%
- Other Ingredients – 69.91% (Cellulose)
-
- How Fast Does It Work: Take 3 days to 1 week to begin working
- How Long Does It Last: 4-6 weeks
How Does It Work
Repellex Mole, Vole, and Gopher repellent is an organic rodent repellent made of natural ingredients and no artificial chemicals.
This repellent comes in granular form and absorbs directly into the soil. The chemicals inside the granules build a protective barrier inside your soil.
When voles burrow through the soil they will not want to continue. This will precent them from creating intricate tunnels in your yard.
The greatest thing is that its easy to apply this repellent.
Spread the granules evenly across your yard, then water the soil for 30 minutes.
The water will break down the granules and the chemicals will seep into the soil.
What I Like
Natural ingredients
The Repellex Mole, Vole, and Gopher repellent is made of pure and natural ingredients, unlike many other products present in the market.
This means you can use it around your yard even if you have kids and pets.
All you have to do is make sure that the water is completely dry before you go on the yard.
Long-lasting solution
This product has a lasting residual effect. In most cases, this repellent will give you around 4-6 weeks of coverage.
The protection can also last up 8-10 weeks if you have softer soil and it absorbs deeper into the soil.
Cheap
The Repellex Mole, Vole, and Gopher repellent come in a huge 24lb bucket. The quantity is enough to treat up to 24,000 sqft of area.
That’s truly impressive!
This is a cheaper solution when compared to most other repellent products in the market.
One container is enough to treat a vast lawn.
Easy To Use
The repellent is in the form of granules. Yet, the granules melt easily when it comes in contact with water.
Though the granules absorb water, they continue to remain concentrated and efficient. They are absorbed quickly and can spread over a wider area.
What I Dislike
Cannot be used on edible plants
The Repellex Mole, Vole, and Gopher cannot be used on edible plant roots. The repellent is not as safe as it can get absorbed through the roots of the plants.
And it can contaminate and pollute your vegetables.
This can be a serious drawback, especially when you have the garden just to produce your pure and organic veggies.
Unpleasant smell
The repellent has a very pungent smell. The smell can be annoying for both rodents as well as humans.
To avoid this smell, I recommend you avoid sitting in your garden for 2-3 days after the initial application.
Not safe for kids
The Repellex Mole, Vole, and Gopher should be handled with caution, especially with kids around.
Although it is safe for kids once its absorbed it is dangerous when in granular form.
If swallowed, it can cause harmful reactions and can be dangerous.
2. JT Eaton 902R Bait Station – Best Vole Bait Station
Pros
Has a time-saving mounting option
Tamper-resistant
Protects the bait from moisture
Has bait holder rods
Durable
Two entryways
Discreet design
Suitable for indoor and outdoor use
Easy to use
Reloading process is quick
Reusable
Cons
No viewing window
Does not come with rodenticide
Expensive
Key Details
- Type of trap: Plastic Bait Station
- Active ingredients:
- How fast does it work: As soon as bait is inserted
- How long does it last: It’s long-lasting since it’s made of black polypropylene plastic.
How Does It Work
The JT Eaton 902R Bait Station is tamper-resistant and perfect for tight, hard-to-reach spaces. It also blends in with pipes, which makes it easier to bait voles and other pests.
You have the option of using blocks or a liquid dispenser, depending on where you intend to place the bait.
The station has a tube-like shape which contains two entryways on either side. It also has a tube at the top, where you can place the bait in.
This bait station is designed to be placed inside of a vole tunnel. It will blend right in with the vole tunnel and give them direct access to the bait.
The vole would go in one tube, pass by the center where the bait is, and leave through the other end of the tube.
You should always remember to keep this out of reach of children and pets.
This is a very versatile bait station that you can use on many other pests and not just voles.
What I Like
Fits Directly Inside Vole Tunnels
The PVC design of this bait station allows you to place this bait station inside the vole tunnel. This is great because it makes it easier to place the bait directly in the path of the vole. It also easy to remove and place the bait inside the station making it easy to use.
Versatile
This trap is great because it is extremely versatile. You can use it underground or above ground with ease. You can also place it strapped to trees or on top of other structures.
This makes this bait station perfect for multiple pests and still highly effective against voles.
Dual-entry feature
This increases the chances of catching a vole. One may enter either way and still get the bait placed in the middle of the station.
What I Dislike
No viewing access
Without a viewing window, it’s hard to tell if there has been any activity in the bait station. This means to determine if there has been activity you need to remove the bait rod.
Does not come with Rodenticide
While some bait stations come with rodenticide. Don’t be mistaken, this does not come with any bait. You will need to purchase rodenticide separately to prepare this station.
3. Sweepney’s Poison Peanuts – Best Vole Bait
Pros
Attracts pests with ease with its peanut butter scent
Budget-friendly
Fast-acting
Easy to use
Suitable for warfarin-resistant rodents
Cons
Harmful to children, plants, and pets
Not suitable for above-ground use
Voles do not always readily eat the peanuts
Key Details
- Type of trap: Bait
- Active ingredients: Zinc Phosphide – 2.00 %
- How fast does it work: In less than 24 hours after consumption
- How long does it last: It depends on the frequency and amount used for each application.
How Does It Work
Sweeney’s Poison Peanuts consists of Zinc Phosphide, which causes mucosal damage when ingested.
After finding the active tunnels, you will punch a hole at the top with the cone tip. Drop a teaspoon of bait into the soil and seal it with a stone. Don’t allow loose soil to cover it.
After you’re done placing the bait, make sure to wash the spoons with hot water and detergent. You should separate these from the ones that you use for eating even if you’ve washed them.
Store the remaining contents, together with its original packaging. Make sure that you keep it somewhere dry and out of reach of children and pets.
Once you’ve emptied out the contents, you cannot refill the container. You should dispose of it to a certified waste disposal plant.
What I Like
Affordable
This product comes in four-packs per package. It is convenient, especially for small treatment areas. You may store the remaining packs and use them throughout the year.
Peanut butter flavor
The smell it has is enough to attract voles and other pests, which increases the chance of catching them.
What I Dislike
Not safe for children and pets
You should be extra careful in where you keep these peanuts. Children may mistake it for food if left within their reach. Pets are also at stake since they are not aware if it would be edible or not.
Needs replenishing
This is to achieve a better result. Applying it throughout your garden once won’t guarantee its effectiveness.
4. Topcat Vole and Mole Trap – Best Vole Trap
Pros
Safe for humans and the environment
High-quality stainless steel
Able to catch voles from both directions
Touch-free removal
Quick and easy to use
Sensitive release mechanism
Suitable for a lot of rodent species such as moles, mice, and voles
Eco-friendly
Cons
Can only catch one vole at a time
Only comes in one size
May require bait
Key Details
- Type of trap: Trap
- Active ingredients: N/A
- How fast does it work: Voles die quickly once trapped.
- How long does it last: It is made of stainless steel, designed to last.
How Does It Work
The Topcat vole trap gets inserted vertically into vole tunnels. The trap has an entrance that allows moles to enter from both directions.
It has a sensitive release mechanism that is located at the entrance of the trap. When the voles enter the trap, it will trigger the release mechanism.
The release mechanism will snap on the voles neck – killing it quickly and humanly.
It also contains a trigger release that allows you to clean the trap without touching the dead vole directly.
What I Like
Easily Place Directly Into Tunnels
This trap is great because you can easily place it directly into the vole’s tunnel. All you have to do is dig create a hole right above the vole’s tunnel.
Two-way doors
These spring doors immediately shut once a vole has entered, in whichever direction. This makes the trap more effective, especially if two voles happen to go in at the same time.
Suitable for other rodent species
This trap is not only for voles, but other rodent species as well, as long as they can fit inside it. This makes the trap very efficient since you would also be able to get rid of other pests.
What I Dislike
Can only catch one vole at a time
This won’t be ideal for large infestations since one trap can only catch one vole. Unless, you’re willing to buy a lot of these traps for that purpose.
Only comes in one size
You would need to check what type of voles you’re dealing with, to see if they would fit inside this trap. Although, you would still be able to catch pests with these, but it might not be the one you want to get rid of.
Needs bait to be effective
This is a type of trap that needs bait to be effective, which would cost you more. You would need to replenish it every time you set the trap.
5. Wire Tek 1001
Pros
Easy to set – no hands required – set with foot
Trap is tucked away safely underground
No ground preparation
No bait required
No poisons or hazardous chemicals
Environmentally friendly
Reusable
All metal heavy-duty build
Cons
Expensive
Difficult to use on loose ground or dirt
Takes time – since there is no bait
Sharp ends on these products can cause safety concerns
Cleaning scissors and disposing of mole can be dangerous
Key Details
- Above or underground: Underground
- Materials: Alloy Steel
- How Long Does It Last: Unlimited one year home use
- Type of Trap: Scissor Trap
How Does It Work?
The idea behind the Wire Tek 10001 is very simple. The scissor mechanism is placed under the ground.
The trap needs to be placed along a mole tunnel.
When the mole passes through the tunnel, the trap is triggered, and the scissors clamp around the mole’s body.
The trap has sets of scissors that are parallel to one another.
This will cover any direction that the mole can come from.
This trap requires digging or bait when setting up.
It does require that the mole naturally go through the tunnel and activate the trap.
So how do you know once a trap has been activated?
When a trap has been triggered, the trap base will be elevated and off the ground.
What I Like
Easy to Use
The best part is that it’s easy to use and very safe.
First, you can essentially set the trap without using your hands.
Once inserted into the dirt, the trap can be completely set with your foot.
There are no exposed parts to this trap, so you don’t have to worry about getting caught on the trap or someone accidentally stepping on it.
Durable and Reusable
I also like how this trap is durable and reusable. This trap is made out of all metal.
You don’t have to work about your trap breaking or being susceptible to the elements.
This trap is made to last, and there is no doubt that you will do this.
What I Dislike
Too Much Uncertainty
My main issue with this trap is that there is no guarantee that the mole will go through the trap.
Since the trap doesn’t use any bait, there is a chance that you might be waiting a long time for it to work.
In some cases, if the moles have moved on to new tunnels, they may never come into contact with the trap.
Expensive
Compared with other traps, this one is quite expensive. It is important to note that this trap is made of all metal, so it will last.
With that said, you will likely need to buy multiple traps, which can get expensive.
Instant Kill
Although this trap is very efficient at catching moles when they try to pass through, unfortunately, the trap does not always provide an instant kill. In some cases, you will find a squirming mole when you remove the traps from the ground.
6. JT Eaton 709PN Bait Block Rodenticide –
Pros
Suitable for indoor and outdoor use
Budget-friendly for its size
Has an antidote in case of accidents
Easy to use
Comes in bulk
Blocks have holes for hanging
Cons
Dangerous for children and pets
Requires continuous replenishment
Not fast-acting
Key Details
- Type of trap: Bait
- Active ingredients: Diphacinone (0.005%)
- How fast does it work: 4-7 days (time to death)
- How long does it last: 2 weeks before dry
How Does It Work
The active ingredient inside this bait is diphacinone.
Diphacinone is an anticoagulant. As the poison builds up inside the rodent’s body they eventually die from internal bleeding.
This baiting system is designed to slowly increase the toxins in the rats or mice’s body over several feedings.
After several feedings the toxins will reach a point where the rodents begin to die.
This typically happens anywhere between four and six days after the initial feeding.
What I Like
Peanut Butter Lure
This bait does something that most baits do not, and that is the bait is flavored. This bait uses peanut butter flavor and scent to attract rodents.
This is a great feature and makes it a highly desirable rats bait.
Easy To Apply
These bait pellets are easy to apply, whether you are using bait stations or using them loose.
If you are using bait stations, there are holes on either side that allow you to hang it on a rod.
If you skip the bait station, these pellets are solid enough to toss or slide to place them.
Without many struggles, you can quickly cover large distances or get into hard to reach areas.
What I Dislike
Not water-proof
Not made for the rainy season because any liquid lessens the effects of the bait. As a result, it’s best to keep this in dry areas and avoid using it near or on water.
To avoid this I recommend using bait stations so your bait is protected from any moisture.
Resistance
Due to the frequency that diaphacinone is used rodents can develop resistance.
This means that
Rats have been known to develop resistance to the active ingredient in this bait.
Since it uses diphacinone which is a 1st generation bait which takes several days and multiple feeding to take effects.
As a result, if rats do not eat enough bait to die they can begin developing resistance.
7. Nature’s Mace Vole Repellent
Pros
Won’t harm sensitive areas
Biodegradable
Non-toxic
Not messy to use
Gets rid of moles, voles, skunks, gophers, and other pests
Safe for children and pets
Also acts as a fertilizer
Budget-friendly
Cons
Continuous replenishing
Some pests may be able to dig around it
Key Details
- Type of trap: Repellent
- Active ingredients:
- Natural Castor Oil – 30.0%,
- Garlic – 1.0%
- Citronella Oil – 0.5%
- Thyme Oil – 0.5%
- Peanut Hull – 68.0%.
- How fast does it work: 2-3 days after application.
- How long does it last: It depends on the frequency and amount when used.
How Does It Work
Nature’s Mace Vole Repellent creates a protective barrier that repels voles and other pests. This is a method of prevention and elimination. While the repellent won’t kill or trap the voles, it should cause them to leave the area.
It makes their food source smell and taste unpleasant, which would cause them to leave the area.
You would need to apply 1lb. of product per 800sq. ft. and be sure to replenish it every 2-3 months for a long-lasting effect.
Applying the product is easy since you can use its container or a drop spreader. This process is ideal to do in the spring or fall, since they are more active during these seasons. You also won’t need to worry about them developing resistance against this product.
After using the product, you should always make sure to close the container.
What I Like
Effective
This is an effective product that works at repelling different pests, including voles. This product continues to work because rodents do not develop resistance. It’s also great because it allows you to keep one product in the rotation rather than switch between products.
Eco-friendly
This Mace repellent does not use any chemicals – all ingredients are natural. This makes it great for the environment and safe to use in areas where pets and children frequent.
Acts as a fertilizer
One great feature about this Mace is that it acts as a fertilizer as well as a repellent. You can be assured that the repellent won’t damage your garden or grass. It will help keep nurture your garden while keeping pests away.
What I Dislike
Requires Reapplication
This repellent does not have a long-lasting effect. This means that you will need to reapply the repellent every 1-3 months depending on the weather conditions and severity of infestation.
Conclusion
Now I have shown you the different methods on how you can get rid of voles.
I know these things would need effort and time, but I can tell you that it will all pay off.
I mean, wouldn’t it feel great? Knowing that you don’t have those little creatures crawling around anymore.
This is why I am encouraging you to go and get a head start now.
You got this.