Meadow Vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus)
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General Description

Voles are rodents that have fuzzy coats and short tails. They mainly live in and eat grass. They are scientifically distinguished from other Alaska mice by having the grinding surfaces of the molars flat-crowned with an enamel pattern composed of alternating triangles. Seven species of voles occur in Alaska. Meadow voles, belonging to the genus Microtus, are colored brown or gray and are mainly found in habitats with grass. They range in length from 128–195 mm including the tail, and average 44 grams in weight.

Life History

Growth and Reproduction

Breeding starts during late winter and continues until August. The gestation period is about 21 days, and then 4–8 young are born blind and naked. The young are weaned at 2 weeks and reach maturity at 3–6 weeks when they themselves may start breeding. Females can have six litters per year; thus in a short period, voles can become very numerous. Voles live about one year.

Feeding Ecology

Microtus voles eat mainly grasses and seeds, while the red-backed voles are omnivorous and will eat grass, seeds, fruit, lichens, fungi, insects and meat. If a vole is caught in a trap, others will feed upon the trapped vole. Both the Microtus and red-backed voles form the base of the food chain for many animals in Alaska.

Predators

Both the Microtus and red-backed voles form the base of the food chain for many animals in Alaska. They are the staple foods of weasels, marten, foxes, coyotes, all owls, most hawks, inland breeding gulls, jaegers, and occasionally great blue herons, domestic cats, northern pike, and other voles.

Range and Habitat

The meadow vole (M. pennsylvanicus) is found in Interior and Southcentral Alaska west to Bristol Bay. It does not occur on Kodiak Island or on the Alaska Peninsula. In Southeast Alaska it occurs only on the mainland and on Admiralty Island.

The Microtus voles live in small colonies of a few to 300 individuals in grass meadows where they build distinctive runways which crisscross the area. Often, grass cuttings can be found in these runways. They also dig underground burrows where they construct food and nesting chambers. Voles do not hibernate and are active throughout the winter. During the winter in snow covered areas, the voles make runways beneath the snow and feed on the snow-flattened grasses. They also burrow up through the snow to reach grass seed heads using various levels within the snow pack. Immediately after the snow melts, their runways often become visible on the ground.

Status, Trends, and Threats

Status

• NatureServe: G5
• IUCN: LC (Least Concern)

Threats

There are no conservation threats to the seven species of voles at present. Some of the voles have subspecies which are limited to small islands and may be threatened in the future by changes to their habitats.

Fast Facts

• Size
  Length: 128–195 mm including the tail
  Weight: 44 grams
• Lifespan
  1 year
• Range/Distribution
  Interior and Southcentral Alaska and west to Bristol Bay.
• Diet
  Grass, seeds.
• Predators
  Weasels, marten, foxes, coyotes, all owls, most hawks, inland breeding gulls, jaegers, and occasionally great blue herons, domestic cats, northern pike, and other voles.
• Reproduction
  Gestation period is about 21 days, and then 4-8 young are born.

Did You Know?

• Meadow voles will eat flesh and are cannibalistic, especially on new born young.
• The meadow vole makes extensive runways through vegetation, and is a proficient digger and swimmer.

Uses

Their greatest benefit to Alaskans is as the prey base for a vast number of predators which Alaskans enjoy viewing, trapping and using.

Management

Voles are unclassified game in Alaska with no closed season or bag limit. In some limited areas of the state, they may become an agricultural pest when their numbers are high.

More Resources

General Information

• Voles — Wildlife Notebook Series (PDF 46 kB)