How Rodents Destroy Your Lawn in Winters (Our Okanagan Pest Control Experts Answer)

When winter rolls around, you're probably dreaming of cozy nights by the fire, not rodents turning your lawn into their personal buffet. But while you're sipping hot cocoa, they're out there, tunnelling away and leaving a trail of destruction that’ll have you wondering if you suddenly moved to a molehill.

Just because you don’t see them doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Come spring, the signs of their winter feast will be all too clear—chewed-up grass, unsightly tunnels, and damage to your beloved lawn.

Don’t worry—our pest control experts in Okanagan have the inside scoop on why rodents destroy lawns in winter, and how to stop them from turning your yard into a winter wonderland... for all the wrong reasons!

With winter pest control, you can stay ahead of these sneaky culprits.

Why Rodents Are a Problem in Winter

When temperatures drop, rodents like mice and voles seek shelter, warmth, and food, and unfortunately, your lawn offers all three. Underneath the protective layer of snow, rodents create networks of tunnels, cozy nests, and even food storage sites, all while keeping away from the winter chill.

Just because you don’t see them doesn’t mean these critters are hibernating. They remain active throughout the winter months. Snow cover provides the perfect cover for their activities, as it offers insulation and protection from predators.

The result? A season-long, hidden assault on your lawn that only becomes apparent when the snow melts, revealing chewed-up roots, damaged grass, and compacted soil.

How Rats, Voles, and Mice Destroy Your Yard in Winter

1. Tunnelling and Burrowing

Rodents, especially voles and mice, are like mini underground engineers. And during winter, they use snow as a cover to create a complex rodent subway system under the ground. These tunnels disrupt your lawn, damaging the root system and creating unsightly paths across your yard.

As they burrow, they seek out warmth and food, leaving long-lasting damage that you won't notice until spring arrives and your lawn starts looking like a rodent-run transit network.

2. Eating Roots

It’s not just the tunnels that are damaging your lawn. Rodents are also feasting on the roots of your grass. During the winter, food sources are scarce, and these critters will go for anything they can find.

The plant material beneath the snow is their safest and surest bet for sustenance, which means munching on the delicate roots of your lawn. This weakens the grass and can result in brown patches, thinning, and a less healthy lawn come spring.

3. Nesting in Lawns

We mentioned creating a subway earlier, but the fact is that rodents don’t use your lawn just for transit. It is more of a ‘home sweet home’ kinda deal.

Voles, rats, and mice will create cozy nests beneath your lawn, burrowing deep into the soil for warmth and protection. These nests not only compact the soil but can destroy grass in the process. When they pack soil down in certain areas, it can suffocate the lawn, creating dead spots that are hard to fix later.

4. Damage to Hardscaping

As we’ve established, rodents destroy lawns in winter, but they also chew through other materials while hiding from the cold.

Mice and rats, especially, have strong teeth that can gnaw through wood, plastic, and even concrete. That deck you built, or those stairs leading to your backyard might not look so great with tiny bite marks.

The irrigation system and wiring in your yard isn’t safe either. Come spring, the last thing you want is to try to water your lawn and suddenly find that nothing works.

5. Gnawing on Tree Bark and Roots

Rodents like voles and rats also gnaw on the bark of trees, especially young ones. They’re trying to get to the inner bark and roots for nutrients during the scarce winter months.

This can lead to girdling, where the bark is completely stripped around the base, ultimately killing the tree or plant. The damage may not be visible until spring, but the long-term effects can be devastating.

6. Attracting Other Pests

The thing about pests is that it’s hard for one to move in before others follow suit. The more rodents you have tunnelling through your lawn in the winter, the flashier the vacancy sign for other pests.

7. Soil Erosion

As rodents burrow and dig, they damage grassroots and lead to soil erosion, especially around sloped areas of your property. With loose soil and weakened grass, rainwater and snowmelt have less resistance, causing further lawn degradation.

Over time, this erosion can create uneven surfaces and even exposed tree roots or underground utility lines, leading to more significant long-term issues.

8. Creating Entry Points to Your Home

Rodents won’t always stop at your lawn. Once they’ve nested and tunnelled in your lawn, it’s only a matter of time before they find a way inside your home. Just think about it, wouldn’t you do everything it takes to find a way indoors in the winter?

Holes in your lawn can eventually lead to weakened foundations, cracks, or even gaps. That’s direct access to your home’s interior.

How to Prevent Rodent Damage in Winter

• Seal Entry Points: Inspect your yard and home for small openings. Use steel wool or caulk to block any cracks, especially around your home’s foundation.
• Tidy the Yard: Clear away debris such as leaves, branches, and firewood piles that provide rodents with hiding spots.
• Install Fences or Barriers: Consider adding barriers around the perimeter of your yard, particularly if your property borders open fields or wooded areas.
• Use Natural Repellents: Scatter natural deterrents like peppermint oil, garlic, or castor oil around the perimeter of your yard.
• Regularly Clear Snow: As snow piles up, rodents use it as insulation. Regularly clearing snow from your yard can disrupt their burrows and make your yard less appealing.
• Elevate Firewood: Store firewood off the ground and away from your home. Rodents love hiding in wood piles.
• Call the Pros: Buzz Boss offers pest control to protect your lawn from rodent damage year-round.

Learn more about keeping rodents out and rodent-proofing your lawn in the winter.

Why Choose Buzz Boss for Rodent Control in Okanagan?

When it comes to winter pest control in Okanagan, no one does it better than Buzz Boss. Our BuzzShield® Rodent package is specifically designed to target rodents before they can destroy your yard.

Here’s why Buzz Boss stands out:

• Comprehensive Assessment: We inspect your yard for potential entry points and weak spots where rodents might nest.
• Tailored Treatments: Whether it’s voles, mice, or rats, our treatments are designed and guaranteed to tackle the specific rodent issue in your yard.
• Humane Trapping: We prioritize humane trapping and removal methods that effectively and safely eradicate rodents from your lawn without causing harm.
• Preventive Measures: Our pest control packages include preventive measures to keep rodents out year-round, not just during winter.

Say Goodbye to Rodent Lawnmates with Buzz Boss

Let’s face it; rodents don’t pay rent, and yet treat your lawn as their personal playground. And man, do they play rough.

Don’t let the tiny critters ruin your lawn (and your sanity)! Stay one step ahead with our BuzzShield® Rodent package. From humane trapping to preventing future invasions, we’ve got you covered. And the best part? You can get a free estimate today and say goodbye to pests without saying goodbye to your wallet.

Serving Okanagan, Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Regina, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg, we’re happy to keep rodents at bay, wherever you are.