Photo courtesy of Chesapeake Bay Program/John J. Mosesso
Meadow Vole Fact Sheet
By Julia Illar
The meadow vole is a tiny, mouse-like rodent that is found throughout nearly the entire state of Alaska. They are fuzzy and have short tails, are gray or brown in color, and are quite small. They prefer to live in areas with grass and other vegetation. They weigh less than a pound and are about five inches in length. Meadow voles are also excellent diggers and swimmers!
Currently, these voles do not have any imminent threats or concerns and are designated as “least concern” on the IUCN Red List. There are several subspecies of voles that are believed to live on small islands in Alaska. If those island habitats change, those voles are subject to being threatened, and that may impact the island food chains that rely on the species.
DID YOU KNOW…
The meadow vole only lives for about a year.
The meadow vole is also known as the “meadow mouse,” but voles are not mice!
This species of vole is common throughout North America and has a vast geographic range.
These voles eat mostly plants, some insects, and even fungi.
Voles are excellent diggers and swimmers.
Photo courtesy of Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game
SCIENTIFIC AND COMMON NAMES
Microtus pennsylvanicus- Meadow Vole; meadow mouse.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Meadow voles look like a classic meadow mouse in both small size and coloring. They have soft, dense fur. While some are dark in color, others are chestnut brown and have grayish bellies.
Meadow voles are a very common mammal in North America. They weigh less than two ounces, and adults typically grow to six to eight inches in length. They have very short tails that are only about one to two inches in length.
Meadow voles have blunt muzzles, short tails, and small ears and eyes. Voles prefer areas of tall grass and vegetation such as the prairie, meadows, and different types of forests.
Watch a short video with more information about meadow voles:
RANGE
Map courtesy of Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game
Meadow voles live throughout Alaska and are found primarily in the interior of the state. Their range extends from Southcentral Alaska west to Bristol Bay. Reports have determined that they do not live on Kodiak Island or many of the other islands throughout Alaska.
Meadow voles do not just live throughout Alaska. They also have a large range throughout all of North America, including portions of Mexico, the lower 48 states of the United States, and Canada.
These voles live in small colonies that usually have up to 300 individuals in them, though that number can be much smaller. They tend to dig burrows and tunnels where they nest and store food. Because these animals do not hibernate, they also use the snow as runways and create tunnels during the winter months. They are known to burrow through snow in order to feed on grass and seeds.
Photo courtesy of the Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game
THREATS/CONCERNS
Meadow voles have a strong population and currently does not face imminent threats or concerns. The IUCN lists them as least concern, although that does not mean that they are immune to threats or population decline. Voles are often seen as pests and are subject to similar consequences that mice are. They are often exterminated with traps or poison. They also are subject to hunting by house pets, such as cats and dogs, and other predators. Some of their predators include foxes, owls, hawks, coyotes, and even other voles.
For populations of voles that live on islands in Alaska, they face threats to their habitats from events such as humans constructing buildings and/or land loss due to rising sea levels and climate change. Humans also have the potential to introduce invasive species to these restricted areas, which could alter the island ecosystems and the populations of voles.
LIFE HISTORY
Meadow voles breed from late winter until August. Their populations can quickly expand, as females have a gestation period of only 21 days! Voles reach sexual maturity at three to six weeks, and they can begin breeding after this time.
These voles have litters of about four to eight young, and they are weaned from nursing at two weeks of age. Voles only live for about a year, but they can have six litters in that period of time, making them very fast reproducers!
Nesting chambers are found underneath the ground in burrows where they have grass cuttings stored.
Watch a video on a meadow vole being hunted by a hawk! (starting at 1:00):
DIET
Voles are omnivores that mainly eat grass and seeds, but they can be known to eat other voles as well. Voles tend to rely mainly on plants, insects, and fungi for food, depending on where they live.
Voles are well adapted to their habitats and will burrow in snow and ground. They also create runways through vegetation and beneath snow. By burrowing through snow, they can reach snow-flattened grasses which they will feed on.
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
The meadow vole was consumed by the Tlingit peoples in Alaska, as well as in other native cultures throughout North America. As the meadow vole has a large range and reproduces quickly, it is a good food source. Additionally, other species of voles, such as the tundra vole, are believed to have been consumed in Alaska.
MEADOW VOLE COLORING SHEET
We hope you learned something new about the meadow vole! Check out our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to learn more about Alaska’s wildlife, and subscribe to our free newsletter to get updates from the Alaska Wildlife Alliance! If you want to support wildlife conservation in Alaska, you can become a member for only $35 dollars a year!
_____________________________________________________________________________
Information obtained from: Britannica, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Traditional Animal Foods, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Chesapeake Bay Program, and The Spruce.
