North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[derry&bill <wchase@interchange.ubc.ca>]

Rob,

Where are you??

If you were in PNW, I'd guess meadow mouse or vole.

And they are a problem! They will eat absolutely all the roots of young (one 
and
two-year old) apple trees. Apparently they love blueberry roots too. They 
don't
seem to like quince or prunus and if they eat roots from older apple trees it 
is
not as noticeable.

They are like a small mouse, but muzzle is blunt, short ears, short tail. The 
ones
here are mouse-coloured. They do move slowly because they are almost blind (no
need for eyes underground).

They are vegetarian and usually eat grass roots in season, but apple roots off
season.

I would say that after deer, they are the second worst pest of young apple
orchards.

Derry

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Derry Walsh & Bill Chase
wchase@interchange.ubc.ca
Aldergrove,  B. C.,  Canada
phone/fax (604) 856-9316
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Home web page  http://www.interchange.ubc.ca/wchase/HTML
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: I am beginning to see these odd looking rodents in my
: yard every so often, and I dont know what they are.
:
: They are about the size of a small skinny mouse,
: The color is charcoal black
: It has almost no eyes and ear folds
: a pointed noise and two long black like a beaver
: and stubby half inch tail
:
: Is this a vole?
: Do I need to worry about them?