A vole is a small rodent that looks somewhat like a chubby mouse with a shorter tail, small ears, and a rounded snout. Voles live in fields, meadows, and forests across North America, Europe, and Asia. They burrow underground and create networks of tunnels just beneath the surface, often leaving visible runways through grass where they've worn down paths traveling between their burrows and feeding areas.

Voles eat mostly plants: grass, seeds, roots, and bark. In winter, they sometimes damage young trees by gnawing the bark at ground level while hidden under snow. Gardeners and farmers often consider voles pests because they can destroy crops and ornamental plants. A single vole might seem harmless, but voles reproduce quickly, and their populations can explode when conditions are good.

Despite their reputation as garden troublemakers, voles play an important role in nature. They're a crucial food source for owls, hawks, foxes, coyotes, and snakes. In fact, many predators depend heavily on voles for survival, especially during winter when other prey is scarce.