Vole vs. Rabbit Damage on Minnesota Trees
Every year after the snow melts away we are left with the damage of hundreds of trees and shrubs. Much of this damage during winter is from voles and rabbits. Like most rodents, voles do not live long, but can do a great deal of damage over the course of winter months.
Voles (or meadow mice) commonly chew of the bark around the base of trees. Often, people are unaware of the damage because the tree leafs out and looks fine. However, if the damage is severe, the tree will slowly decline and die. Even if a vole has damaged the entire cambium around a tree, there will be enough stored energy to leaf out and give the appearance that the tree is OK. However, once the damage to the cambium reaches a certain point, the tree is “essentially” dead.
What to Look For (Vole) = Bark chewed off base of tree plus burrowing damage through the lawn
Vole damage is typically seen on thin-barked trees like maple, linden, locust and crabapple (especially on younger trees).
What to Look For (Rabbit) = Neatly chewed bark OR completely eaten branch tips, specifically on shrubs.
Rabbit damage (during winter) is typically seen on younger maple, linden, locust or crabapple trees. It is very common to see rabbit damage on many types of shrubs including burning bush, lilac, chokeberry and dogwood. Rabbit damage CAN seem to be impactful during summer months (especially when your favorite hostas are devoured), but rabbits can completely destroy valuable shrubs and hedges over the course of a few months.
Vole Damage on maple tree in Minnesota.
Pictures shows close-up of typical damage from voles once the snow has melted.
Prevention and Recommendations for Voles
Predicting vole damage is almost impossible so prevention measures can be a waste of time. Using trunk protection around younger thin-barked trees can be warranted, especially if the trees are located near a wetland or wild area. Many voles come from these areas and attack boulevard or front yard trees during winter months.
The BIG Oak recommends careful planning of newer trees along wetland or wild areas. Trunk protection can be used for high-value or important trees. I would also limit the number of maple and linden trees planted.
Red arrow pointing to damage from voles during winter in Minnesota.
Prevention and Recommendations for Rabbits
Honestly, trying to control the damage of rabbits can be somewhat a challenging task. Even with fences, guards and repellents, rabbits often find a way. Trapping and removal of rabbits is legal in Minnesota if you feel it necessary, but buffering against rabbits is often the best recommendation. Having a wide variety of trees, shrubs and perennials is often the safest move.
The Good News
Unlike vole damage (which can easily kill a tree), rabbit damage can often be “corrected”. You don’t ever want rabbit damage, but often times shrubs with extensive damage can be cut to the ground to fully rejuvenate. This is a far better scenario than having to replace an entire tree.
Rabbit Damage on Burning Bush Shrubs
This is typical damage to shrubs during the winter. Some of these branches will leaf out just fine, while others will need to be cut to ground level to regrow.
