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 Vole FAQ - Vole FAQ like 'what does a vole look like' 'what do voles eat', 'what is a vole', 'what is the difference between a mole and a vole', 'what countries do voles live in' & 'how long does the meadow vole live are answered here.
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How Long Does the Meadow Vole Live? The meadow vole has a very short life span and the average meadow vole only lives for about a month. Meadow vole populations are kept high by its ability to breed prolifically.
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How Long Does the Meadow Vole Live?
It has been found through detailed research that the meadow vole has one of the shortest life spans of all mammals. The answer to the question 'how long does the meadow vole live' is that the average meadow vole lives for about a month and it is rare for any to live beyond 12 months.
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How Long Does the Meadow Vole Live?
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One of the reasons for the meadow vole's short life is that it is a mainstay in the diet of a host of predators. It is preyed on by house cats, foxes, coyotes, snakes, hawks, falcons, owls, and many other common predators. Survival tactics used by the meadow vole to combat this threat include constructing a labyrinth of tunnels in the snow during the winter months.
To deal with the safety these tunnels provide, predators have developed keen hearing. Fox and coyotes will stand above the snow with their ears pointed forward listening for a vole running through its tunnel. When they have located one, they will leap trying to catch the vole between their paws. This tactic may be attempted several times, but in the end they will either enjoy a tasty meal, or if the vole is lucky, just a mouthful of cold snow.
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The most relevant links we could find, placed here free
 Talk About Wildlife
- This profile of the meadow vole contains lots of information that answers the question, how long does the meadow vole live? www.weaselhead.org
USGS
- The page contains interesting information about meadow voles. www.npwrc.usgs.gov
Despite such short life spans, meadow vole populations remain high due to the fact that they are promiscuous breeders and may produce litters at any time of the year. Females breed with any male attracted to them. Gestation is about 21 days upon which time a litter of 4-7 young is born.
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How Long Does the Meadow Vole Live?
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After about a month, individuals are sexually mature. Litters produced in the summer where food is more plentiful are larger than those produced in the winter. Most females do not live long enough to produce more than one or two litters.
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