Voles, those discreet little rodents, are often perceived as harmless. However, their presence in your garden can have significant health consequences for both you and your pets. The proliferation of these rodents can quickly become a major problem, with negative impacts on health, crops, and the environment.
The Health Hazards Associated with Voles
Voles represent a significant health risk due to their ability to transmit diseases, cause damage to crops, and contaminate food.
Diseases Transmitted by Voles
Voles can transmit various diseases to humans and pets through their feces, urine, or bites.
- Leptospirosis: This bacterial disease is transmitted through the urine of contaminated voles. It can cause symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, headaches, and kidney problems. In some cases, leptospirosis can even be fatal if not treated quickly.
- Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS): This viral disease is transmitted by the hantavirus present in vole feces. It causes severe symptoms such as fever, headaches, muscle pain, respiratory problems, and kidney problems. HFRS can be fatal in 30% of cases.
- Salmonellosis: This bacterial infection is often contracted by consuming food contaminated with vole feces. It causes gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and fever.
- Toxoplasmosis: This parasitic disease is transmitted by cats that have ingested contaminated voles. It can cause health problems in pregnant women, immunocompromised individuals, and newborns.
- Lyme Disease: This bacterial disease is transmitted by ticks that feed on voles. It can cause symptoms such as fever, headaches, joint pain, a rash, and, in the long term, heart, neurological, and joint problems.
Damage to Crops and Food Contamination
Voles cause significant damage to crops, leading to production losses and a risk of food contamination.
- Damage to Vegetables: Voles gnaw on the roots, stems, leaves, and fruits of vegetables. They can also contaminate crops with their feces, making the food unsuitable for consumption.
- Damage to Fruits: Voles can nibble on fruits and fruit trees. They can also cause damage to the roots and trunks, weakening the trees and making them vulnerable to disease. For example, an amateur gardener in the Var region suffered a loss of 40% of his cherry harvest due to a vole infestation.
- Contamination of Drinking Water: Voles can contaminate drinking water with their feces and urine, which can lead to serious illnesses. It is important to ensure that wells and drinking water sources are protected from vole access.
Preventing and Controlling Vole Populations
It is important to take preventive measures and control vole populations to minimize health risks and damage to crops.
Preventive Measures
Applying simple and effective preventive measures is essential to prevent vole invasion.
- Hygiene and Cleanliness: Regular garden maintenance, the removal of waste and food residues, and frequent lawn mowing are essential measures to avoid attracting voles.
- Protection of Food Supplies: Store food in airtight containers inaccessible to voles, and do not leave food in the open. It is also recommended to store food in plastic or metal containers, rather than in paper or fabric bags, as voles can easily tear them.
- Reduce Access Points: Seal holes in foundations, walls, and ventilation ducts, and repair cracks in walls and floors. Install wire mesh around your garden to prevent voles from entering. For example, a homeowner in Grenoble noticed a significant decrease in vole activity in his garden after installing wire mesh around his tomato plants.
- Rodent Control: Install rodent traps or use natural repellents. There are different types of rodent traps, such as cage traps, glue traps, and bait traps. Cage traps are considered the most humane method, as they capture voles without killing them. Natural repellents, such as peppermint, garlic, and cayenne pepper, can also deter voles.
Natural Solutions to Deter Voles
Natural solutions can be used to keep voles away from your garden.
- Repellent Plants: Plant repellent plants such as lavender, peppermint, garlic, rue, oregano, and thyme. These plants emit odors that voles do not like.
- Predatory Animals: A cat, owl, or bird of prey can help control the vole population. A homeowner in Lyon noticed a 75% reduction in the vole population in his garden after adopting a cat.
- Natural Trapping Techniques: Use cage traps or glue traps. It is important to place the traps in strategic locations and check them regularly to remove captured voles.
Professional Solutions for Vole Control
In case of a significant vole infestation, it is recommended to call a company specializing in pest control. These professionals can offer solutions tailored to your situation, such as disinsection, rodent control, and pigeon control. The services of a specialized company can guarantee effective intervention and long-term control of vole populations.
By taking preventive measures, using natural solutions, and calling on professionals if necessary, you can minimize the health risks associated with voles and protect your garden and your health.