A common sign of vole activity is which of the following?

• A. Narrow, paired grooves girdling the trunk at the ground line
• B. Circular scars on the bark
• C. Large teeth marks on leaf margins
• D. Webbing on stems

Answer: (A)

Voles cause damage at the base of woody plants by gnawing through the bark and cambium right at ground level. The most recognizable sign is narrow, paired grooves that encircle the trunk at the soil line. This girdling disrupts nutrient flow and can kill the plant above the damaged area if the girdle is complete. Other signs, like circular bark scars, large teeth marks on leaves, or webbing on stems, come from different pests or damage types (insects feeding on leaves, borers, or mites) and don’t match the typical ring-like gnawing pattern produced by voles. So the ground-line, paired girdling grooves are the best indicator of vole activity.