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 Vole Species - Approximately 70 vole species have been discovered which include: Meadow Voles, Florida salt marsh vole, Arctic voles, southern red-back voles, bank vole, water vole, CA vole and red-backed vole.
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The Meadow Voles is one of the most common species of vole. Meadow Voles behavior is consistent with that of most vole species in that it is mainly nocturnal. The Meadow Voles life cycle is usually complete in less than a year.
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This page is a near duplicate of the more popular title Meadow Vole because the page titles should be about the same topic.
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Meadow Voles
Microtus pennsylvanicus is the most widespread vole in North America. Its east to west range is continuous from central Alaska to the Atlantic coast. South of the Canadian border, the Meadow Voles's western limit is the Rocky mountains. It can also be found as far south as the states of New Mexico and Georgia.
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Meadow Voless eat mainly green vegetation
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This is invariably the familiar 'mouse' that you see scurrying about in grassy meadows or stubble fields on your outdoor rambles. Meadow Voless have a body about 4 inches long and a tail of about 1 1/2 inches. They weigh roughly 1 l/2 ounces and their ears are short. The back and sides are grayish brown and belly is much lighter. These small mammals can be distinguished from mice by their relatively short tail.
The Meadow Voles is active usually at night and only occasionally during the day. The diet of this vole consists almost entirely of green vegetation and tubers, including many grasses, clover, and plantain. The animal produces grass cuttings as it reaches up and cuts off the stalk, pulls it down and cuts it again, until the seed heads are reached. The vole apparently consumes flowers, leaves, and all but the tough outer layer of the stalk, eating almost its own weight daily.
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The most relevant links we could find, placed here free
 FCPS
- This page has information about Meadow Voless as well as pictures and video clips. www.fcps.k12.va.us
Animal Diversity
- This page lots of information about the characteristics and behaviour of Meadow Voless. animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu
Like many vole species it constructs a system of surface runways and underground burrows. The spherical grass nest may be located in the burrows in summer or in a depression on the surface under matted vegetation. In the wintertime, the vole's life changes. They live above ground, but under the snow where it is warmer than the open air. Meadow Voless must find food above ground and they will gnaw on the bark of bushes for nourishment, leaving behind fine tooth marks.
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Meadow Voless live in burrows
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Female voles have three to six litters of four to seven young in a year and most voles live much less than a year. The vole population in any given area tends to pass through a boom and bust cycle over a three- or four-year period. Although these animals tend to live close together, they are aggressive towards each other. This is particularly evident in males during the breeding season. They can cause damage to fruit trees, garden plants and commercial grain crops.
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