Flower Roots Cleanly Cut Off? Voles Are the Culprit

Gerbera daisies killed overnight—roots cleanly severed at base. Small tunnel found, blocked by railroad ties. Chipmunks, voles, grubs suspected.

Diagnosis: Voles (Meadow Mice)

Voles are rodents that tunnel just below surface, sever roots cleanly at 45° angle or straight across. They eat bulbs, roots, bark. Active day and night, year-round.

Protection Strategies

• Hardware cloth cages: Plant vulnerable bulbs/roots inside 1/4-inch mesh cylinders.
• Gravel barrier: Surround beds with 6-12 inch wide band of coarse gravel (voles dislike tunneling through it).
• Trapping: Mouse snap traps baited with peanut butter-apple mix, placed in runways (under boxes for safety).
• Habitat reduction: Mow tall grass, remove mulch piles near beds.

Repellents rarely work. Exclusion and trapping are reliable.