# Eastern Meadow Vole (*Microtus pennsylvanicus*) The Eastern Meadow Vole is a small, furry animal that loves to live in grassy fields. They are very good at hiding and can be found scurrying around in the grass. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Eastern Meadow Vole](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Meadvole.jpg&width=800) Photo: NPS, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Meadvole.jpg) ## Appearance The Eastern Meadow Vole has a stocky body with dense, soft fur that is typically dark brown or grayish-brown on top, fading to lighter gray on its belly. It also has small, barely visible ears, tiny black eyes, and a short, scaly tail, distinguishing it from longer-tailed mice. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Cricetidae - **Genus:** Microtus ## Interesting facts - A single vole can eat its body weight in plants every single day! - Eastern Meadow Voles don't hibernate; they stay active even under winter snow! - They can hear sounds humans can't, helping them detect predators nearby! - Voles create "runways" through grass, like secret highways, to travel safely! ## Special abilities - **Tunnel Master:** Eastern Meadow Voles can dig extensive underground tunnels because they have strong claws that help them create safe havens. - **Grassland Grazers:** Eastern Meadow Voles can thrive on tough plant material because their ever-growing teeth help them continuously grind down fibrous foods. - **Rapid Reproducers:** Eastern Meadow Voles can have many litters each year that helps their populations rebound quickly. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 12-20 cm - **Weight:** 0.02-0.07 kg - **Lifespan:** 1-2 years - **Speed:** 8 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-11 - **Gestation:** 20-23 days ## Diet & Feeding These small rodents munch mainly on grasses and other green plants! - **Primary Foods:** grasses, sedges, clovers, roots, seeds - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — Hawks frequently hunt voles in open fields. - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — Coyotes often prey on these small rodents. - **Eaten by:** [Long-tailed Weasel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/long-tailed-weasel) (*Mustela frenata*) — Weasels are agile hunters that target voles. - **Eats:** [Timothy Grass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/timothy-grass) (*Phleum pratense*) — Voles heavily graze on common meadow grasses. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a vole, watch quietly from a distance and don't try to touch it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eastern Meadow Vole? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Eastern Meadow Vole? 12-20 cm ### How much does Eastern Meadow Vole weigh? 0.02-0.07 kg ### How long does Eastern Meadow Vole live? 1-2 years ### How fast can Eastern Meadow Vole move? 8 km/h ### What does Eastern Meadow Vole eat? These small rodents munch mainly on grasses and other green plants! ### Where is Eastern Meadow Vole usually found? Grasslands ### How does Eastern Meadow Vole hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Arboretum Villanova](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arboretum-villanova) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden - [Arnold Mills Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arnold-mills-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Nantucket Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nantucket-historic-district) — Massachusetts, US · Historic District - [Rockland Residential Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rockland-residential-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Thomaston Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/thomaston-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Maria Mitchell Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/maria-mitchell-aquarium) — Massachusetts, US · Zoo [View all places to see Eastern Meadow Vole](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/eastern-meadow-vole) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Eastern Meadow Vole: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-meadow-vole)