Voles, want some of them?

The little varmints have killed all of my black raspberry plants and are now working on the asparagus plants. I tried dropping rat pills down their hole, that is, whenever I can find one. Any ideas how to get rid of them? I don't care for asparagus but my wife does, so I should try to keep some for her. Or should I plant more, and share with the voles? Right now the plants have been cut to the ground and will begin growing again next year. I would sure like to be ready for their attack when the season begins.

Aren't they lovely little critters? Sarah dug one up for us once, but I don't think it would be practical to ship our dog to you! ;) Try these links, Woody:

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/gaston/staff/voles.html
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/teletip/scripts/2717.htm
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/mecklenburg/depts/hort/wild/moles.html

Hope those help. Wish we had more sun so I could grow asparagus - it's our absolute favorite and we've never had it fresh from the garden. Must be REALLY yummy that way.

Thanks for the info GW, and it is from my home state!! I have seen just one Pine Vole and one Meadow Vole. The Pine Vole is causing the damage to my asparagus. The Apple Sign Test was interesting to read, (so involved in detail to locate where the voles were active.) But when they work in the asparagus patch, after the harvest has been halted, their presence is obvious as the "fern" begins to droop and finally dies and turns brown. I will arm myself with the suggested arsenal of eradicating material and meet them on their battlefield next Spring. Oh,btw, stop by anytime next spring and help yourself to some fresh product. I raise the regular so-called "male only" Jersey type plus the Purple Passion variety, which can be eaten either raw as a salad or cooked. Many thanks for your assistance, GW. Woody

You need more cats. Mine catch a lot of voles but never eat them, they must not be as tastey as mice!

Raise Castor Beans in the rows. The critters hate the smell of the roots and leave the territory. Grind up castor beans and spred the powder/grindings on the soil, then water well. Gopher Spurge works ok too. Collect well used cat litter or the cleanings from cat litter boxes from all your friends. Pour the clumps on the soil in the areas being bothered and water well. Underground tunneling critters hate that smell too. The scent must stay in the soil for a really long time as we have done that and never had critters again in that area.

I can't believe I forgot to tell you about planting garlics in your beds and under the shrubs and trees in your yard. Most of our garlic is NOT planted in the regular vegetable beds but amongst the flowers, trees, and shrubs. Tunneling critters hate the smell of garlic. In late summer I dig the garlic(usually wait until the second summer especially if it got planted in the spring or summer)and replant a clove or 2.