This week we’re learning about voles. In particular, this little cutie who was busy cleaning up around our campsite when we weren’t really looking. I’m pretty sure this is a northern red-backed vole.
There are a couple of clues that suggest vole. First is the reddish “stripe” along the back. Second, this little rodent’s tail is much shorter than that of a mouse. And third, the eyes are smaller than a mouse’s. Combine those few things with a quick Google search and voila! I’m a field biologist. (not really).
The smaller you are in the animal kingdom, the more predators you have. Red-backed voles are constantly on the lookout for hungry weasels, marten, foxes, coyotes, all owls, most hawks, inland breeding gulls, jaegers, and occasionally great blue herons, domestic cats, northern pike, and other voles. How are there any voles even left with that many predators?! I’m glad you asked!
Voles are busy little creatures who have little time for recreation. Females are pregnant for 17-19 days and can have up to four litters a year during the breeding season which is May to September. 4-9 young are born per litter and the young are mature in 2-4 months. Voles live either alone or in small family groups. Perhaps that depends on how many family members one has eaten?!
To keep up with their feeding and breeding schedule, voles need to eat a lot. They eat a variety of grass, seeds, fruit, lichens, fungi, insects and meat. They may be cute but they will cannibalize other voles if they get caught in a trap.
Voles only live 10-12 months. Usually by the time they are a year old they are dead because their reflexes get slow and predators eat them. The images of this red-backed vole may be the only ones ever taken of this particular individual.
I hope you enjoyed this week’s story and peek into the life of one of the territory’s smaller creatures. Please feel free to like and share and we’ll see you again next Sunday.