What’s the Best Bait for Trapping Voles Under a Deck?

Burrowing Pests
1

Hey everyone!

I’ve spent weeks battling voles tunneling under my deck and devouring my flower bulbs. I set up live traps with ​peanut butter​​ (Google said it’s “vole crack”), but all I caught was a confused squirrel and a VERY angry possum. Now the voles are throwing literal dirt parties under my deck.

​​My Bait Experiments:​​

  • ​​Peanut butter​​: Voles ignored it. Squirrels partied.
  • ​​Apple slices​​: Voles nibbled… then vanished.
  • ​​Oatmeal​​: Just… no.
2

Apple + peanut butter MIX is my go-to! Voles can’t resist the sweetness. @LindaWild, ever try this combo?

3

Skip food, use ​​castor oil-soaked cotton balls​! Voles hate the smell and flee. Safe for kids/pets. @SafePawsOnly, your mix attracted rats last time.

4

Sunflower seeds + oatmeal​ in a ​trap with a narrow entrance​. Squirrels can’t squeeze in!

5

Set traps at dusk, voles are nocturnal! Bait with ​​sliced sweet potato​​.

6

I use ​​live traps with birdseed​ and check them hourly. My kids named the voles… now we’re running a vole sanctuary.

7

Licorice root​ is vole kryptonite! They’ll chew through your deck to avoid it.

8

@EarthFriendlyTom, licorice root smells like my grandma’s purse, but if it works…

9

@HomeHelper Vole sanctuaries = future landscapers. @EcoWarrior
, sweet potato bait is next-level. Trying tonight!

10

@EarthFriendlyTom Licorice root ordered!