Family: Muridae, Mice and Rats view all from this family
Description Reddish brown above with short, soft fur; grayish, washed with buff below. Reddish-brown tail short, not much longer than hindfoot. Eyes and ears small. Upper incisors not grooved. Skull extremely similar to that of Prairie Vole. L 4 1/8 –5 3/4" (105–145 mm); T 1/2 –1 1/8" (12–29 mm); HF 5/8–3/4" (16–20 mm); Wt 5/8 –1 3/8 oz (19–39 g).
Similar Species Prairie Vole has longer, more grizzled fur. Meadow Vole and voles of the genus Clethrionomys have longer tails. Bog lemmings have shallowly grooved upper incisors.
Breeding Reproduces year-round in South, late March through August or September in North; 1–4 litters per year, each of 1–6 young; gestation 20–24 days.
Habitat Deciduous woodlands with thick leaf mold or thick herbaceous ground cover; sometimes park-like grassy areas.
Range Eastern U.S. west to c Iowa and c Texas; south from c Wisconsin and c New England through southern states, except for most coastal areas.
Discussion The Woodland Vole may be active any time of the day or night. The alternate common name "Pine Vole" and the Latin species name pinetorum are misleading, as this species is rarely found in or around pinewoods. Forbs, grasses, roots, and tubers are its dietary mainstays, but it also will eat seeds, fruits, bark, a few insects, and underground fungi. It stores large amounts of food in underground caches. This vole spends most of its time in tunnel systems one to several inches below the surface. It usually constructs these burrows, digging with its forefeet and incisors and pushing back the dirt with its hindfeet. Vocalization is a harsh chatter, with one to five notes per call. The Woodland Vole is somewhat colonial, although colonies sometimes disband and disappear for no apparent reason. This species does not show population cycles, although it varies greatly in number through time. Its main predators are hawks, owls, foxes, and black snakes. It may be a problem in orchards, where it girdles young trees and can damage roots; however, since its burrows are so close to the surface, it usually can be controlled by cultivation.
