VOLE
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DESCRIPTION:
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A vole is a small rodent resembling a mouse but with a stouter body, a shorter hairy tail, a slightly rounder head, smaller ears and eyes, and differently formed molars. Voles can grow to 4-8 inches depending on species. There are approximately 155 species of voles. They are sometimes known as meadow mice or field mice in North America.
BIOLOGY:
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Voles are most commonly seen in early fall and spring, as these seasons provide ideal conditions for their activity and reproduction. These small rodents are prolific breeders, capable of producing 5–10 litters per year. With a gestation period of just three weeks, young voles reach sexual maturity within a month, allowing populations to expand rapidly. A single pregnant vole in your yard can quickly lead to an infestation, as litters typically consist of 5–10 young. In less than a year, just one vole can result in 50 or more offspring. However, despite their high reproductive rates, voles have relatively short lifespans, typically living only 3–6 months. Few survive beyond 12 months, with the longest recorded lifespan of a vole being 18 months.
HABITS:
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Voles are often mistaken for other small animals such as moles, gophers, mice, rats, and even shrews due to their similar size and behaviors. Because voles frequently use burrows with multiple exit holes, they are sometimes confused with gophers or ground squirrels. However, unlike many of these other rodents, voles primarily target plants, making their presence most evident in gardens and landscaped areas. They have a strong preference for small plants and will readily “girdle” or chew the bark of young trees and ground cover, much like a porcupine. This girdling can be fatal to young plants and is highly damaging to trees and shrubs. Voles also have a particular fondness for succulent root systems, often burrowing beneath plants or ground cover to feed until the plant dies. Additionally, bulbs are a favorite target, as their excellent tunneling abilities grant them easy access to underground food sources. Unfortunately, vole infestations often go unnoticed until significant plant damage has already occurred.