Townsend's Vole

Microtus townsendii

Townsend's Vole is a small, furry animal that loves to live in grassy areas. They are great at digging tunnels and can be found in fields and wetlands, where they make cozy homes.

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The Townsend's Vole has a stocky body with dense, dark brown fur on its back, transitioning to a lighter grey on its belly. It features a relatively short, dark tail and small ears that are almost hidden within its fur, making it appear robust compared to mice.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderRodentiaFamilyCricetidaeGenusMicrotus

Townsend's Vole

Interesting facts

These voles often create 'highways' of clipped grass through their habitats!

They are sometimes called 'meadow mice,' but they're not true mice!

They can have up to 10 litters in a single year – wow, busy!

Townsend's Voles build intricate tunnel systems in dense grass!

Special abilities

Townsend's Voles create complex networks of clipped grass runways and tunnels that help them travel safely and quickly.

Townsend's Voles can have multiple litters a year, helping their population quickly bounce back from challenges.

This vole can thrive in damp, marshy environments that other small mammals might find too soggy, thanks to its adaptations.

Measurements & details

Length: 12-18 cm
Weight: 0.05-0.17 kg
Lifespan: 1-2 years
Top Speed: 8 km/h
Litter Size: 2-9
Gestation: 21-23 days

Diet & Feeding

They munch on fresh grasses, clover, and other plants, helping to keep meadows tidy and healthy.

Primary Foods

grasses
clover
sedges
horsetail
dandelion

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Barn Owl

Tyto alba

A common prey for silent hunters of the night.

eaten by

Coyote

Canis latrans

Often caught by opportunistic predators in open fields.

eaten by

Long-tailed Weasel

Mustela frenata

A favorite, nimble meal for slender predators.

eats

Dandelion

Taraxacum officinale

Feeds on its leaves and stems as a nutritious snack.

Traits

Furry

Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Burrowing

Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding.

Grassland

Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.

Herbivorous

This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.