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Voles

A vole is a small rodent resembling a mouse but with a stouter body; a short hairy tail; and smaller ears and eyes. Voles are also called meadow mice or field mice. The meadow vole is the most widely distributed species of the 23 vole species in the United States. The meadow vole is found in the northern US and Canada. It prefers wet meadows and grassland habitat. The long-tailed vole is found in a wide variety of habitats, (for example, sagebrush grasslands, forests, mountain meadows and stream banks) in the western US and Canada.

Voles eat a wide variety of plants, most frequently grasses and forbs. In late summer and fall, they store seeds, tubers, bulbs, and rhizomes. They will eat crops if populations are high.

Voles are active day and night, year round. They do not hibernate. Home range is usually 1/4 acre or less but varies with the season, population densities, habitat, food supply and other factors. Voles construct many tunnels and surface runways with numerous burrow entrances. A single burrow system may contain several adults and young.

Voles may breed throughout the year, but most commonly in spring and summer. In the field, they have 1 to 5 litters per year. They have produced 17 litters in one year in a laboratory. Litter sizes range from 1 to 11, but usually average 3 to 6.

Voles are prey for many predators; however, predators do not normally control vole populations.

Voles may cause extensive damage to orchards, ornamentals, and tree plantings, due to their girdling of seedlings and mature trees. Field crops (for example, alfalfa, clover, grain, potatoes and sugar beets) may be damaged or completely destroyed by voles. Voles can also ruin lawns, golf courses and ground covers.

The most easily identifiable sign of voles is an extensive surface runway system with numerous burrow openings. Runways are 1-2 inches in width. Vegetation near well-traveled runways may be clipped close to the ground. Feces and small pieces of vegetation are found in the runways. The numerous burrow openings are most often the size of a golf ball.