Underground railroa-dents; Fence best fix to stop tunnelling garden invaders.(LIFE - HOME)

Washington Times, The, June, 2007

Byline: Jen Waters, THE WASHINGTON TIMES If flowers and plants start falling over in the back yard, it may not be because of bad gardening habits. A vole could be on the loose. Voles are a major threat to vegetable and ornamental gardens, says Adria Bordas, horticulture extension agent in Fairfax County.

"They feed at the roots and the material at the soil line," Ms. Bordas says. "They will basically eat all the roots, and you will have your plants fall over one day in your yard." Critters of all shapes and sizes can destroy a garden with little effort. A fuzzy-tailed animal easily could eat a flower garden for lunch, while other animals like to dig holes in the terrain. For gardeners who are having difficulties with destructive animals, 90 percent...