Common Vole

Microtus arvalis

The Common Vole is a small, furry animal that loves to live in grassy fields and meadows. They are great at digging tunnels and can be found scurrying around looking for food.

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The Common Vole is a small, stocky rodent with brownish-grey fur on its back and lighter grey underneath. It has a blunt snout, small eyes, and short ears that are often hidden within its dense fur, making it look different from a long-eared mouse.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderRodentiaFamilyCricetidaeGenusMicrotus

Common Vole

Interesting facts

A single female Common Vole can have up to 5 litters in one year!

Common Voles create 'vole runways' by eating paths through dense grass!

Even in winter, they stay active under the snow in cozy tunnels!

Their underground tunnels can be longer than two school buses combined!

Special abilities

Common Voles can dig intricate tunnel systems because of their strong claws, which helps them create safe homes.

Common Voles have many babies quickly that helps their species survive, even with many predators around.

Common Voles can munch on tough grasses and roots because of their constantly growing teeth, which helps them find food.

Common Voles have excellent hearing despite their small ears, which helps them detect predators from far away.

Measurements & details

Length: 8-13 cm
Weight: 0.018-0.05 kg
Lifespan: 1-2 years
Top Speed: 12 km/h
Litter Size: 3-8
Gestation: 20-21 days

Diet & Feeding

A plant-eating expert, the Common Vole nibbles on fresh grass, seeds, and underground roots.

Primary Foods

grasses
seeds
roots
bulbs
leaves

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Barn Owl

Tyto alba

main prey for many owl species

eaten by

Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes

a significant food source for opportunistic foxes

eats

Wheat

Triticum aestivum

consumes seeds and shoots of agricultural crops

eats

Cocksfoot Grass

Dactylis glomerata

major food source in its grassland habitat

Traits

Furry

Find adorable animals covered in a cozy coat of soft fur! Their fur helps them stay warm and protected in different environments.

Social

Discover creatures that love to live and work together! These animals form groups, helping each other find food, stay safe, and raise their young.

Burrowing

Dig deep and discover animals that build amazing homes underground! They create tunnels and chambers to stay safe, find food, or escape the weather.

Grassland

These wide-open spaces are covered in grasses, often home to grazing animals and incredible predators! Experience the vastness of the plains.

Herbivorous

Meet the peaceful munchers and grazers who find all their nourishment from plants, leaves, and fruits. They transform plant energy into life!

Keystone Species

Discover the hidden heroes of nature! These special species play an incredibly important role in their habitat, holding the entire ecosystem together like a crucial piece of a puzzle.