Voles
Biology
Voles are found throughout North America, Australia, Europe, and Asia. They are sometimes referred to as “field mice” or “meadow mice”. There are 124 species of voles with 23 of those species native to the United States.
The vole is a small rodent with a stout body and a short tail. They are brown or gray in color. Females can have 5 – 10 litters a year, with a gestation period of 3 weeks. This ability to reproduce at a high rate is the main factor in an infestation. However, there are many predators of the vole. This is why the lifespan of the vole is around 3 -6 months. Voles rarely live longer than 1 year. It is estimated that 88% of voles die within the first month.
Habitat
Voles are active all year long and do not hibernate. They also are active during the day and night. Voles are rarely seen because they live in tunnels and complex burrow tunnels under the lawn surface. They construct numerous underground burrows and tunnels (1″ to 2″ wide) normally ranging within a one-forth acre area. This is where they nest, find protection, and feed on the vegetation under the Earth’s surface. The vole lives in colonies consisting of adults and young.
Threats
Vole damage is seen when vole populations are high. Vole damage includes: gnawing of trees, destroyed vegetable gardens, damage to lawns by tunneling and runway systems, tearing up mulch in flower beds, and clean, round holes in the lawn around 1.5″ in diameter.
Transmitted Diseases
Voles are a rodent, so they carry the same risk of transmitting diseases as the more common rodents like mice and rats. Voles can spread more than 35 diseases. These diseases can be spread to humans directly, through handling of live or dead rodents, through contact with rodent feces, urine, or saliva, and through bites. Diseases carried by voles can also be spread to humans indirectly, through fleas, ticks, or mites that have fed on an infected voles. Although, due to the fact that voles are rarely seen and there is little to no interaction with humans, the chances of any transmission is extremely rare.
Feeding Preferences
Voles are mostly herbivores feeding on grass, seeds, roots, stems, and leaves. In rare instances, voles will eat insects or snails.
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