Voles are best trapped with small snap traps or tunnel traps placed along their surface runways. Voles live in grass and mulch, not deep tunnels like moles, so the right trap is small, sensitive, and placed where they travel. Here are the traps worth using.
- Mouse-sized snap traps are the most reliable for voles.
- Tunnel traps work well in active runs.
- Place traps along surface runways, not in the open.
- Bait with seeds, nuts, or peanut butter.
Quick Comparison
| Product | Type | Best For | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| SWISSINNO Vole Trap PRO | Tunnel trap | Best Overall | Check price |
| Guarden Rat Trap 6-Pack | Snap trap | Best Value | Check price |
| Kat Sense Covered Trap | Covered snap | Best Covered | Check price |
| Victor Metal Pedal 12-Pack | Snap trap | Best Snap | Check price |
| Wanqueen 2-Pack Mole & Vole | Outdoor trap | Best Outdoor | Check price |
| Anyhall 2-Pack Live Trap | Live trap | Best Live | Check price |
Best Overall: SWISSINNO Vole Trap PRO
Best Overall- Type
- Tunnel trap
- Target
- Voles and gophers
- Placement
- In active runs
- Reusable
- Yes
The SWISSINNO Vole Trap PRO is a tunnel-style trap designed specifically for voles and gophers, placed directly in the active run. The tunnel design guides the vole into the trap as it travels the runway.
This is the most targeted vole trap, built for the way voles actually move through grass and mulch rather than a generic rodent trap.
Best Value: Guarden Rat Trap 6-Pack
Best Value- Type
- Snap traps (6-pack)
- Target
- Voles and rats
- Reusable
- Yes
- Bait
- Seeds or peanut butter
The Guarden six-pack of powerful snap traps is the economical way to treat a vole problem. The traps are sized for rats and voles, and six traps let you place them along multiple runways at once.
The multi-pack is the right choice when voles have spread across the lawn, since you can cover several runways in one go.
Best Covered: Kat Sense Covered Trap
Best Covered- Type
- Covered snap trap
- Target
- Voles, chipmunks, rats
- Safety
- Enclosed housing
- Bait
- Peanut butter
Kat Sense’s covered trap prevents accidental triggering and keeps pets and fingers away from the mechanism. The enclosed design is the safer choice when pets roam the yard.
The covered housing means only the intended animal reaches the bait, which makes it a good choice for a family yard.
Best Snap: Victor Metal Pedal 12-Pack
Best Snap- Type
- Snap traps (12-pack)
- Target
- Voles and mice
- Reusable
- Yes
- Bait
- Peanut butter
Victor’s metal pedal traps are the industry standard for small rodents, and the 12-pack gives you full coverage for a vole problem. The sensitive metal pedal fires reliably on a light vole.
The 12-pack is the most economical way to place traps along every active runway at once.
Best Outdoor: Wanqueen 2-Pack Mole & Vole Trap
Best Outdoor- Type
- Outdoor traps (2-pack)
- Target
- Moles and voles
- Material
- Metal
- Use
- Outdoor
The Wanqueen two-pack is built for outdoor use against moles and voles, with a durable metal design that holds up to the weather. It is the right choice for a yard where traps stay out through the season.
The two traps cover a couple of active runs, and the outdoor construction means they last longer than indoor traps.
Best Live: Anyhall 2-Pack Live Trap
Best Live- Type
- Live cage trap (2-pack)
- Target
- Voles, chipmunks, mice
- Humane
- Catch and release
- Bait
- Seeds
The Anyhall two-pack of live traps lets you catch voles without killing them, for humane relocation. Each small cage closes its door when the vole enters.
Live trapping is the humane choice, but you must check traps frequently and release promptly, and relocation rules vary by state.
How to Choose a Vole Trap
Locate Active Runways
Voles travel through surface runways in grass and mulch. Place traps directly in these runways, not in the open, for the best results.
Snap vs. Live
Snap traps are quick and effective, while live traps let you relocate. Choose based on your preference and local rules on relocation.
Bait
Voles are drawn to seeds, nuts, and peanut butter. A small dab of peanut butter holds the bait in place on the trigger.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mouse-sized snap traps and tunnel traps are the most reliable, placed directly in the vole’s surface runways. A tunnel trap like the SWISSINNO is the most targeted.
Seeds, nuts, and peanut butter all work. Voles are herbivores, so seeds and grains are the most natural choice.
No. Voles are rodents that eat plant roots and create surface runways. Moles are insectivores that tunnel underground. The traps and placement differ.
Four to six, placed along multiple runways, is the practical range. A multi-pack lets you cover several active runs at once.
Rules vary by state. Check with your state wildlife agency before relocating a trapped vole.
