standby − The vole fence.
Behaviour
Voles have an enormous reproductive potential. As soon as the pups reach maturity, they are chased from the burrow by their parents. Recently vole-free areas will continuously be repopulated by the sub-adult offspring. The (re-)immigration into these areas occurs above-ground.
standby – The vole fence.
The fence stops (re-)immigration into the protected area. Once vole-free, the area will stay vole-free thanks to the vole fence! Natural enemies (foxes, cats, birds of prey, badgers, stoat etc.) benefit from the vole fence and will regularly scan the area along the fence. The standby-boxes are systematically checked by predators.
Above ground, the moving vole attracts many predators. Exposed to these dangers, the vole will hide in the standby-boxes for protection, where it is trapped. Predators such as foxes, cats, badgers and stoats will open the box by opening the flip top and snatch bait. The flip top will close and the trap is ready for the next vole to be trapped.