 |
 Vole Species - Approximately 70 vole species have been discovered which include: meadow Vole, Florida salt marsh vole, Arctic voles, southern red-back voles, bank vole, water vole, CA vole and red-backed vole.
|
|
|
|
|
The vole species 2 page gives you access to information about the snow vole, prairie vole, woodland vole, heather vole, sagebrush vole, tundra vole and pine vole.
|
Vole Species 2
Although closely related, different vole species display a range of life strategies and social behaviours. Meadow and montane voles are promiscuous and show little in the way of social attachment or paternal care of offspring. In contrast, the prairie and pine voles featured on the vole species 2 page are monogamous and exhibit strong social attachments. In prairie voles, the more studied of the latter two species, pairs share a common nest even beyond the breeding season, and both sexes provide parental care and display aggression against unfamiliar individuals.
|
|
|
Prairie voles are are monogamous and exhibit strong social attachments
|
Another difference between the vole species featured on the vole species 2 page can be seen in the habitats in which they live. Snow voles are generally found above the timberline on high rocky mountainsides and prefer rocky areas where they can find cover from their predators between the rocks. Where as the woodland vole (sometimes known as the pine vole) is largely found in woodland areas where ground cover in the form of leaf litter and lodged grasses offers suitable protection.
These differences in habitat between some of the vole species found on the vole species 2 page also affects their relationship with humans. Gardeners see pine voles as a pest because they tunnel right up to the main roots and trunks of fruit-bearing trees and gnaw on bark, sometimes girdling and killing the tree. Gardeners also lay traps and vole poison to kill them because they often develop a liking for bulbs and the roots of ornamental plants and shrubs.
|
|
|
Pine voles are pests to gardeners
|
Contrast this with the heather vole which is a 'Species of Special Concern' with a 'Native Species Status'. They occupy mountainous regions near or above the timberline away from large populations of humans. Yet they are also killed by humans (indirectly) and have become endangered due to their alpine habitats being destroyed by the clearcutting of forests.
|
|
|
|
Page: 1, 2 - Previous
 Snow Vole - The snow vole is one of the largest of voles species and one of the most widespread, being found across south west Europe and as far east as Iran. It prefers rocky habitats and is found in mainly cold climates.
 Prairie Vole - Prairie voles are so called because they frequently inhabit tall-grass prairies. They are generally nocturnal but are active during the day in cold weather. Prairie voles use burrows and surface runways to avoid predators.
 Woodland Vole - The woodland vole, sometimes known as the pine vole, is mainly found in deciduous woodland areas. The survival rate of woodland voles depends on the number of predators in its particular habitat which include hawks & foxes.
 Heather Vole - The heather vole is a small species of vole which lives in mountain regions near the timberline. In America heather voles are a 'Species of Special Concern' because its habitat is being destroyed by clearcutting of forests.
 Sagebrush Vole - This medium sized vole is found on well managed sagebrush-wheat grass rangeland and in brushy canyon & hill country. When sagebrush voles are inactive they occupy an underground burrow which can be lined with sagebrush bark.
 Tundra Vole - Tundra voles live in a range of habitats including damp tundra vegetation near lakes and streams and poplar and spruce woods. Their yellowish brown fur distinguishes them from similar species like the meadow vole.
 Pine Vole - Pine voles are sometimes known as "woodland voles" because they actually live in deciduous woods rather than coniferous forests. Many gardeners employ pine vole control as they are well known for damaging the roots of plants.
The most relevant links we could find, placed here free
 Hilton Pond Center
- This page has information about the pine vole, one of the species featured on the vole species 2 page. www.hiltonpond.org
Northern State University
- This page profiles the prairie vole. www.northern.edu
|
|
Voles Home
Back
Site Contents Map
Page Index A-Z