Which statement accurately reflects the location of typical vole activity?

• A. Ground level bark girding
• B. Crest of branch tips
• C. Deep soil burrows near irrigation lines
• D. Lofty canopies of trees

Answer: (A)

Voles operate right at the soil surface, so their feeding and damage are focused at the base of plants. They gnaw the bark at ground level, which girdles the trunk or stems and can kill the plant by interrupting nutrient flow. This ground-level activity is why ground level bark girding is the best description. They don’t typically feed up in tree canopies or deep underground; those patterns point to other pests. Signs to look for include gnaw marks right above the soil line around the base and shallow runways through turf or mulch leading to the plant.