I now usually plant everything with a very generous handful of crushed oyster shells. Supposedly it deters the critters from digging because they don't like the sharp bits (although if your cages don't stop them, I'm not sure crushed shells would). I also spread some mole max the last 4 or 5 years. I seemed to have some immediate results with that when I first put it down, but who knows if it was from that or if they had just eaten almost everything and were moving on anyway?

I also spread some milky spore. I know this is more for moles, but since I do have mole tunnels, I thought I'd give it a try out of desperation. I don't have much damage from moles themselves, but I've read that voles will use mole tunnels, so if I can get rid of moles, maybe that will help with the vole problem.

I have noticed some mole tunnels out in the gardens this year - haven't inspected closely yet. But it seems like most of the plant material is okay... so far.

My neighbor told me about the juicy fruit "solution" and even gave me a few packs - which I ended up chewing, lol. Never got around to putting it in the holes, so I don't know if it works or not. My problem has seemed to calm down a bit in the last year or so (which I'm afraid to admit lest I jinx it!)

Below is a thread which discusses some vole problems and hopefully some advice. If you do a search you should find more - I think there are at least two other vole threads on the New England forum alone. Popular subject, sadly.

Hope this is of some help. Good luck to you - trust me, I know what a frustrating problem this is.

:)
Dee