What is a key method for controlling pocket gophers and voles?

Controlling pocket gophers and voles effectively often involves managing their food sources and habitat. One key method in this regard is controlling the weeds around growing areas. Weeds can provide additional cover and food for these rodents, which might encourage their presence. By reducing weed populations, you can diminish the food resources available to these animals and create an environment that is less hospitable.

The other options, while they may have impacts on vegetation or habitat, do not directly target the management of pocket gophers and voles as effectively as weed control does. For instance, planting more herbaceous species may attract these rodents, as they often thrive in areas with abundant plant life. Encouraging low-density vegetation might not provide sufficient deterrence against them, and avoiding the removal of debris can actually create more habitat for them to thrive in. Thus, weed control stands out as a strategic method in managing the populations of these rodents.