Microtus pennsylvanicus
The Meadow Vole, or
"Field Mouse," is a small, common rodent
that lives in grassy fields, woodland, marshes,
and along lakes and rivers. It is five to seven
inches long, counting the tail, and usually weighs only and
ounce or two. Meadow Voles' color can vary from
yellowish-brown to reddish-brown to blackish-brown. They are
normally gray on their underparts. Meadow Voles make nests
in clumps of grass, using materials such as dry grass,
sedges, and weeds.
From their nests, they build "runways," like tunnels beneath
the grass and plants. Meadow Voles are most
active at night during the Summer, and during the day if its
Winter. They are less active when there's a full
moon. Meadow Voles
breed
frequently. It is common for a vole to have 12
litters
a year. Anywhere between one and eleven young is
normal. Most Meadow Voles live a
year to a year and a half. Meadow Voles'
diet
includes many things, including grasses, sedges, seeds,
flowers, leaves, roots
of shrubs and small trees, bark, tubers, bulbs, and
sometimes insects. Some of Meadow Voles'
favorites, besides grasses, are clover and plantain. These
animals can eat their weight daily. Meadow Voles do not
hibernate,
and they do not usually store food. They eat constantly.
Voles concentrate on green vegetation
in the Summer, and switch to mostly grains and seeds in
Fall. While Meadow Voles use
mostly runways, they also build systems of burrows.
They are good diggers, as well as good swimmers. If a vole feels
threatened, it will stamp its hindfeet, much like a rabbit.
Meadow Voles normally only make noise in order to threaten
another vole. Female voles are very territorial. Meadow Voles are preyed
upon by many creatures, including: hawks, owls, foxes, cats,
snakes, crows, herons, shrews, skunks, bullfrogs, snapping
turtles, largemouth bass, and raccoons.
Copyright, John White