Meadow Vole
Microtus pennsylvanicus
Meadow voles live in damp meadows, grassy fields, marsh edges, orchards, and old pastures, where they make narrow surface runways through dense vegetation. They feed mostly on grasses, sedges, roots, bark, seeds, and other plant material, gnawing constantly with ever-growing incisors. Rather than relying on strength, they avoid predators by staying under grass cover, slipping into burrows, and freezing when threatened. A notable fact is that their populations can rise and crash in dramatic multi-year cycles, making them very important prey for hawks, owls, foxes, snakes, and many other hunters.
- Type
- Burrow
- Conservation status
- LC
Growth chain
- ?
- Meadow Vole