Rodent widespread in Central Europe with a body length between 12 and 24 cm (also sheared mouse, meadow vole, dry rat, ground rat). The field vole is also a member of the family, although it does not play a role in viticulture. The vole lives underground in burrows up to 1 m deep in meadows, gardens and farmland. It gnaws roots and rootstocks of vines, which leads to poor budding, sudden wilting of leaves and even death. The population density is very high, so the damage can be considerable. The pest is controlled by trapping or creating colonisation sites for natural counterparts such as weasels and other small mammals. See also under vine enemies.
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