Small rodents are a crucial element of forest ecosystems that contribute to the stability, vitality and dynamics of forests, but they are capable of causing major damage to saplings and tree seeds which can subsequently disrupt forest regeneration. Continuous monitoring of the population of small rodents enables and facilitates the prediction of damage and allows for a timely reaction, as well as creates suitable conditions for an effective system of integrated protection against pests by using the proper measures of protection. Periodically significant difficulties in the regeneration of forest stands due to the activityof rodents have been noted by the Vinkovci Forest Administration (FA), which invests large financial and material resources in monitoring and measures of protection. In order to better understand the trends in the abundance of small rodents and their influence on the occurrence of damages in state forests, this paper analyzes the results of systematic multi-year monitoring of small rodent populations through the annual reports of the Croatian Forestry Institute in the period from 2018 to 2022, as well as offers an overview of preventive uses and repressive methods for their reduction within the Vinkovci FA. The results indicated an overabundance of rodents in 2020 and a drastic drop in numbers in 2021 and 2022. Mice represented the dominant group of trapped small rodents, while vole numbers were significantly lower. Nevertheless, mice and voles follow the same trends in population dynamics in the observed period. The highest damage intensities were identified on forest seeds.The area of attacked and treated surfaces in the Vinkovci FA were veryhigh everyyear.On the otherhand, there are certain discrepancies in the values of damage intensity, relative abundance and attacked or treated area, which is why it is necessary to improve the methodology of field sampling and damage determination, and to coordinate the execution of monitoring at all levels of administration. Further monitoring of small rodents is an indispensable element of successful population control in the future and is the basis of preventive and opportune action to ensure the stability and vitality of forest ecosystems, especially with rising pressures such as global warming and climate change.