The short answer is yes. Voles can be very damaging to a lawn and yard. They love to chew the vulnerable stems of young trees and woody ornamental plants, causing severe damage and dieback. Voles also cause considerable turf damage, which most homeowners discover in the spring.

Are voles good or bad?

However, they also play beneficial roles, including dispersing nutrients throughout the upper soil layers. Voles also provide food for many predators, including raccoons, owls, hawks, falcons, coyotes, foxes, snakes, weasels and even cats and dogs.

Are voles bad for your yard?

In addition, voles damage the roots of perennials such as hosta plants, spring bulbs, and the root crops in the garden, such as potatoes. Mainly, however, voles eat the stems and blades of grass. And the runways they leave behind in the process make for an unsightly lawn.