Building science-based, grower-led strategies for vole management

The Willamette Vole Management group unites growers, researchers, agencies, and organizations across the Willamette Valley to co-design research and management strategies for gray-tailed vole populations.

Illustration of the growth stages of a corn plant from seed to mature plant with roots, soil, and leaves.
Illustration of a hamster with brown fur, small ears, whiskers, and tiny paws, standing against a black background.
Close-up of a small, brown vole sitting on a log with blurred green foliage in the background.
A man wearing a beige hat and a brown shirt is shaking hands with another person during an outdoor gathering in a lush green setting. Other individuals are visible in the foreground, and there is a dirt path and trees in the background.
A metal trap is set in the soil, with a hole in the ground for animal entry, surrounded by grass.

Our Mission

Co-creating management solutions for the cyclical dynamics of gray-tailed voles

The Willamette Valley in the Pacific Northwest of the United States is an agricultural system of national and international importance. Over 80% of the grass seed grown in the United States and 99% of hazelnut production globally occurs in the Willamette Valley.

The region is also home to the gray-tailed vole, which displays extreme population fluctuations. Vole outbreaks can have major impacts on economic, ecological, even political systems.

The Willamette Vole Management group unites stakeholders across the Valley to co-create research priorities and co-design management solutions for gray-tailed vole populations.

Close-up of a hazelnut branch with green leaves and two ripening hazelnuts.

Latest News & Updates

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Illustration of a mouse with brown and white fur and long whiskers.

Explore Vole Management Resources

Why This Work Matters

Vole outbreaks can directly impact Willamette Valley’s economy, human health, and biodiversity.

We need everyone to better understand the currently unpredictable cycles of gray-tailed vole populations in the Willamette Valley. Through innovative collaborations, we can develop science-driven, stakeholder-led strategies for effective vole management.

Silhouette of a fox standing in tall grass at night with a full moon in the sky.