Voles

Voles are small, chunky, ground-dwelling, mouse-like rodents

Identifying Characteristics

• Small, stocky body
• Tapered muzzle
• Short legs
• Short tails
• Mature voles are 5 to 7 inches long
• Adults are chestnut-brown mixed with black and underparts dark gray
• Underfur is generally dense with thicker and longer guard hairs
• Feet are brownish in color
• Tail is covered in thin hair
• Small eyes
• Ears are furred and do not project much above the hair
• Young are uniformly gray

Northern hemisphere

Short life span, generally range from 2 to 16 months

They live in a wide variety of habitats, with elevations ranging from sea level to high mountains. Said habitats include prairies, steppes, semidesert, alpine and subalpine meadows, treeless tundra, and several types of forest. A voles home range is usually 1/4 acre or less, but varies with season, population density, habitat and food supply

• Wide variety of plants, most frequently grasses
• Late summer and fall, voxels store seeds, tubers, and bulbs
• Eat bark at times, primarily in fall and winter
• Grain crops
• Occasionally eat snails, insects, and animal remains

No. Voles are active day and night, year-round with peak activity occurring at dawn or dusk

Breed throughout the year, but most commonly in spring and summer

Generally have 1 to 5 litters per year, averaging 3 to 6 young.

• Construct many tunnels and surface runways with numerous burrow entrances
• Travel lanes visible from the surface about 1 1/2 inches wide
• A single burrow system may contain several adults and young
• Nests are globular structures of dry grass about 6 to 8 inches in diameter
• Nest cavities are usually located on the surface of the ground or under old boards, discarded metal, logs, or other such cover

• Extensive damage to orchards, ornamentals, tree plantings by gnawing on the bark of seedlings and mature trees (girding)
• Crops- eating and cause damage by building tunnel systems throughout crop fields
• Consume small roots, girdle large roots
• Eat bark from base of trees
• Tunnel system causes damage to lawns, gardens, golf courses, and ground covers