Vole

A vole is a small rodent resembling a mouse but with a stouter body. It has a shorter hairy tail, a slightly rounder head, and smaller ears and eyes.

Description

Most vole species have rootless molars that fold into a series of triangles. Voles are one of the few rodents whose molars continue to grow during their entire life. There is little to distinguish a vole from a lemming.

Voles exhibit complex genetic structures with much variation. They appear to be evolving rapidly when compared to other vertebrates. Species have been found with anywhere from 17 to 64 chromosomes. Female voles have been found with chromosomes from both sexes. All of these variations result in very little physical aberration. Most vole species are virtually indistinguishable. All rodents have incisors that grow continuously.

Adult voles, depending on the species, are three to seven inches long.

Habitat

Voles live in a variety of environments. The North American Meadow Vole lives in networks of above ground “runways” in grassy areas. It also lives in underground burrows. California’s Red Tree Vole lives in the treetops.

Range

Sometimes it is known as meadow mice or field mice in America. There are approximately 70 species of voles can be found in Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America.

Diet

The vole’s diet consists of seeds, tubers, conifers needles, bark, insects, and various forms of green vegetation such as grass and clover.

Predators

Many carnivores such as wolves, owls, hawks, coyotes, foxes, weasels, cats and fish eat voles.

Age

The average life of a vole is 3 to 6 months. Voles rarely live longer than 12 months. The longest lifespan of a vole ever recorded was 18 months.