SCOTTISH farmers are being urged to combat potentially ‘catastrophic’ damage voles can cause to young woodland.
The Farm Advisory Service (FAS) says thin-barked broadleaved trees such as sycamore are particularly vulnerable to these fast-breeding rodents, which like to gnaw at the bark.
Both bank voles and field voles attack young trees, mostly during winter, the FAS explained. Bark is gnawed from the roots and lower stem.