WHEN a young tree in an orchard suddenly collapses and dies from being girdled at the base of the trunk, gophers are often quickly blamed for the damage. While the damage may appear very similar, girdling by voles (meadow mice) can sometimes be more serious since quick population explosions can result in extensive damage over a wide area in a very short time. Voles, not to be confused with moles that eat insects and grubs, normally live in areas with dense vegetation in shallow burrow systems. They are active both day and night and do not hibernate, thus can be seen year-round.
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