Do Voles Eat Wheat? Growers Need to Be Alert to Vole Damage

Voles are a type of the Cricetidae family. Compared with other mice, voles have a sturdier body, a shorter tail, and smaller eyes and ears than other members of the Muridae family. So, do voles eat wheat?

1. Do voles eat wheat?

Voles do eat wheat, and wheat is the tastiest, but they cannot reach the wheat ears; the wheat ears are left for sparrows to eat, and voles can only eat the roots of the wheat. In spring, the roots of wheat are full of moisture, tasting sweet and juicy.

2. Where do voles live?

Voles can live in many kinds of environments, and their habitat range is very broad, from the cold tundra all the way to the subtropics. Most are ground-dwelling species; they dig underground tunnels or make nests in gaps under fallen logs, tree roots, and rocks. Some are active during the day, some at night, and some both day and night. Some are aquatic species, with half-webbed hind toes and a laterally flattened tail that helps them swim. Some are semiaquatic species.

3. What animals are the natural enemies of voles?

Voles have many natural enemies, such as various small felids like cats, small canids like weasels and foxes, various birds of prey like owls, and reptiles like snakes and monitor lizards. A single owl can prey on 1000 voles in one summer.