We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More ›
Voles—also known as meadow mice—are small rodents that tunnel underground and can wreak havoc in yards and gardens if not deterred with an effective vole repellent. These little creatures can produce 100 offspring a year, so it’s important to get a vole situation under control before generations of fluffy critters decide to make your yard their new home.
According to Daniel Baldwin, a board-certified entomologist at Hawx Pest Control in Ogden, Utah, “Prevention is always the key when it comes to pests such as voles.” He also says that there are a number of ways to deal with a vole infestation, including using natural repellents, setting live mole traps, or even placing peppermint-oil-soaked cotton balls near problem areas in the yard.
With this info in mind, and after reviewing more than 35 promising vole control products, our top pick is the Natural Elements Mole and Vole Repellent. Made of 100 percent castor oil, it can repel voles and is nontoxic and pet-safe. Keep reading for tips on choosing the best option for your needs, and explore our curated picks for some of the best vole repellents on the market.
- BEST OVERALL: Natural Elements Mole and Vole Repellent
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Natural Armor All-Natural Rodent Shield
- BEST GRANULES: Chase Mole and Gopher Repellent
- BEST EASY-TO-USE: Swialls Mole, Gopher, and Vole Repellent Balls
- BEST ULTRASONIC:Xmuniha Solar-Powered Ultrasonic Vole Repeller
Vole Repellents Comparison
| Product | Type | Coverage | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Elements Mole and Vole Repellent | Liquid | 20,000 square feet | 1 gallon |
| Natural Armor All-Natural Rodent Shield | Liquid | 1,000 square feet | 1 gallon |
| Chase Mole and Gopher Repellent | Granules | 6,000 square feet | 6 pounds |
| Swialls Mole, Gopher, and Vole Repellent Balls | Balls | 1,040 square feet (130 square feet per ball) | 8 |
| Xmuniha Solar-Powered Ultrasonic Vole Repeller | Ultrasonic | 6,000 square feet (1,500 square feet per unit) | 4 |
Our Top Picks
We’ve researched the most popular vole repellents, considering effectiveness and ease of application. The following are the top picks for the best vole repellents for your home.
Best Overall
Natural Elements Mole and Vole Repellent
Buy at Amazon
What We Like
- Features a high coverage area
- Made from natural and nontoxic ingredients
- Affordable price
What We Don’t Like
- Only effective on moles and voles
- Can take up to 14 days to work
Product Specs
- Type: Liquid
- Coverage: 20,000 square feet
- Quantity: 1 gallon
This product is made of 100 percent castor oil, which is nontoxic and free of potentially harmful chemicals but acts as an effective deterrent for voles. It works by contaminating the voles’ primary food source of grubs and worms, forcing them to find food elsewhere and vacate the property. It’s designed for deterring both moles and voles but won’t affect companion pets or other wildlife.
We like that the product won’t be affected by rain and can remain effective for up to 90 days, meaning users don’t need to reapply it frequently. The product is available in 1-gallon bottles, each of which offers an impressive coverage area of 20,000 square feet.
Get the Natural Elements vole repellent on Amazon.
Best Bang For The Buck
Natural Armor All-Natural Rodent Shield
Buy at Amazon
What We Like
- Affordable price
- Effective for mice, rats, and rodents
- Can be used both indoors and outdoors
What We Don’t Like
- Covers less area than other products
Product Specs
- Type: Liquid
- Coverage: 1,000 square feet
- Quantity: 1 gallon
The Natural Armor All-Natural Rodent Shield is an all-purpose rodent repellent that can be safely used both indoors and outdoors for eradicating moles and voles. Although voles don’t often invade homes, the product can also be used to repel mice and rats that take up residence. It won’t stain surfaces, so it can be used almost anywhere in the home. It’s made with peppermint essential oil, which acts as a natural and nontoxic deterrent for these little creatures.
To use, transfer the liquid to a spray bottle and shake liberally. Then, apply the spray to any area that is being affected by rodents, either indoors or outdoors.
Get the Natural Armor vole repellent on Amazon.
Best Granules
Chase Mole and Gopher Repellent
Buy at Amazon
What We Like
- Works on all sorts of burrowing animals
- Safe for children, wildlife, and pets
- Can be applied by hand or spreader
- Effective for up to 60 days
What We Don’t Like
- Past users report mixed results on effectiveness
Product Specs
- Type: Granules
- Coverage: 6,000 square feet
- Quantity: 6 pounds
The Chase mole and vole repellent granules come in a six-pound bag, and can be spread by hand, drop spreader, or broadcaster spreader at a rate of one pound per 1,000 square feet of yard. Chase recommends applying the granules when you notice vole holes in the yard, typically from early spring to late fall. To encourage the voles to move out of the yard, you can apply the granules to one-third of the problem area on the opposite side of where you’d like the rodents to exit. A couple of days later, apply the granules to the middle third of the area, and then repeat on the final portion of the yard.
These granules are pet-, wildlife-, and child-safe and feature a castor oil scent. For faster absorption into the soil, you can water the granules after application or apply them right before it rains.
Get the Chase vole repellent at Amazon.
Best Easy-to-Use
Swialls Mole, Gopher, and Vole Repellent Balls
Buy at Amazon
What We Like
- Nontoxic, plant- and pet-safe formula
- Offers 2 to 3 months of protection
- Easy to use
What We Don’t Like
- Multiple packs needed for large yards
Product Specs
- Type: Balls
- Coverage: 1,040 square feet (130 square feet per ball)
- Quantity: 8
If you spot signs of voles in the yard and need an easy way to deter these rodents, the Swialls repellent balls, scented with garlic and peppermint, offer a kid-, pet-, and plant-safe way to do so. Each ball covers up to 130 square feet of lawn or garden, and there are eight balls in one pack.
To repel voles, simply place a ball near any active tunnels or in places (like the garden) where you want to prevent voles from burrowing. Each repellent lasts for up to three months, offering long-lasting, nontoxic protection.
Get the Swialls vole repellent at Amazon.
Best Ultrasonic
Xmuniha Solar-Powered Ultrasonic Vole Repeller
Buy at Amazon
What We Like
- Fast-acting; just stick in the ground
- Solar-powered and waterproof
- Repels many nuisance animals
What We Don’t Like
- Mixed user reviews concerning effectiveness
Product Specs
- Type: Ultrasonic
- Coverage: 6,000 square feet (1,500 square feet per unit)
- Quantity: 4
Those who don’t want to spend time applying granules or liquid repellents to their yard, or are looking to double-up on vole-repelling strategies, may be interested in trying these ultrasonic vole pest control repellents. Available in a pack of four, each device covers 1,500 square feet for a total of 6,000 square feet of coverage.
These ultrasonic stakes emit a sound vibration frequency once every 25 seconds, deterring a number of nuisance animals, including voles, moles, gophers, skunks, and more. We like that no batteries are required to keep these repellers running—simply install the stakes directly into the ground, and the integrated solar panel will keep them powered.
Get the Xmuniha vole repellent at Amazon.
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Chose the Best Vole Repellents
Years of experience covering home goods and gardening supplies, as well as extensive product research, went into creating this guide. We explored more than 35 vole deterrent options and weighed a number of practical considerations before making our recommendations.
- Type: There are several different types of vole repellents on the market, and we aimed to include options of each variety to appeal to the widest array of shoppers.
- Reviews: Many vole deterrents make impressive claims but don’t actually hold up to user testing, so we included only well-reviewed products on this list.
- Safety: When choosing a vole repellent, opt for a product that’s humane and won’t cause harm to pets or neighborhood animals. We chose only humane and nontoxic repellents for this guide.
What to Consider When Choosing Vole Repellents
Although it’s easy to assume that all vole repellents offer similar performance, a number of factors affect their functionality. Features such as intended use, safety, and the product’s coverage area can make one better than another for a specific situation. Keep reading to learn about these important features to consider when choosing a good vole deterrent.
Types
A number of factors go into determining the most effective vole control product for a particular situation. Several styles of vole deterrents are available, each of which has advantages. However, some types work better in some cases than others.
- Granular repellents are designed to be sprinkled outdoors in areas that are being infested by voles. They must be watered in after being applied.
- Liquid repellents work similarly to granular repellents, though some can be used both indoors and outdoors. They may be sold in a spray bottle, making the application process simple.
- Ultrasonic vole repellents emit low-frequency vibrations that are unpleasant for voles but are undetectable to human ears. They typically feature heat or motion sensors and are activated when animals enter the vicinity. They may not be ideal for pet owners because they will also deter cats and dogs. They don’t, however, emit any potentially harmful chemicals, so they don’t have a negative impact on the environment. They can be an eco-friendly method for keeping animals out of the garden.
Effectiveness
Many vole and mole repellents make impressive claims but don’t actually offer effective performance. For that reason, we relied heavily on consumer reviews in making our recommended picks to ensure that each product was effective.
Even though our top picks are highly rated, heavy infestations may require professional help. “Sometimes, the infestation may be too severe for DIY solutions or you may just not want to deal with the problem yourself,” says Baldwin. “In this case, you should call up a professional pest control service who can tackle the problem quickly and efficiently, and provide advice on how to keep voles from coming back.”
Safety
For households with pets and young children, it’s important to avoid animal repellents that could cause harm to either people or animals. Such households should be particularly wary of opting for a pest repellent that contains toxic ingredients. The vole repellents we recommend are humane and nontoxic, keeping these pesky animals from digging holes in the yard without causing them harm. They are also safe to use around pets and children.
Coverage
When choosing a vole repellent, it’s important to consider its coverage area, which is typically listed in the product’s description. Some ultrasonic pet repellers are able to cover areas of up to 7,000 square feet; other repellents have varying coverage areas. Choose a product based on the size of the area that the voles are affecting.
Versatility
Voles can invade various parts of a home or garden, so it’s important to choose a product that’s versatile if your issue is not localized. Some products work only in garden beds, while others are more widely applicable.
When choosing a vole repellent, consumers may be looking for a product that deters other types of animals as well. Many vole repellents are also effective at repelling moles, mice, rats, and other rodents. Some all-purpose animal repellents may also keep other wildlife, such as deer, foxes, raccoons, and skunks, at bay. Keep versatility in mind to get the best value if a yard or garden is plagued by a variety of pests.
FAQs
Though you now know more about controlling voles, you may still have questions about how to use them. The following are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about how to select and use vole repellents on your property.
Although there is no humane and fast-acting method to get rid of voles, the first step should be to create an environment that’s inhospitable to them. Voles thrive in tall grass and piles of wood, mulch, or leaves, so be sure to eliminate these from the property.
Vole extermination should be considered only as a last resort. In fact, it’s important to note that it’s illegal to kill voles in some parts of the country. To permanently get rid of voles, consider using a trap-and-release system. Release the voles into a green area that’s away from other residences.
Ultrasonic pest repellents are effective on voles because they emit a frequency of sound that’s irritating to them and therefore keeps them at bay.
Though some vole deterrents do work, it’s important to choose a product that’s well-reviewed and has been proven to be effective.
Voles are deterred by both castor oil and capsaicin—a compound found in hot peppers. Either of these products can act as a simple DIY vole deterrent. You may also consider adding plants that repel voles around problem areas in your yard. These can include daffodils, snowdrops, garlic, or onions.
Unlike many other pests, voles are active year-round. When identifying vole activity, consider that mole versus vole damage is often confused. Voles will typically create shallow channels throughout the yard, while moles will create tunnels with dirt mounds on the surface of the ground.
