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Vole



         


Vole
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Rodentia
Family:Muridae
Subfamily:Cricetinae
Genera:Microtus,
Clethrionomys,
Phenacomys,
Lagarus,
Arvicola

A vole is a small rodent resembling a mouse but with a stouter body; a shorter, hairy tail; and smaller ears and eyes.

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Description

Voles have rootless molar teeth which fold in to a series of triangles. Unlike most rodents, voles' molars, as well as their incisors, grow continuously.

They range in size from three to seven inches in length.

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Habitat

Voles live in a variety of environments. Canada's meadow vole lives in networks of above-ground "runways" in grassy areas, as well as underground burrows. California's red vole lives in the tree tops.

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Range

Sometimes known as field mice in America, approximately 70 species of voles can be found in Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America.

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Diet

Diet consists of mainly of various green vegetation, such as grasses and clover, but also of tubers, conifer needles, bark, and insects, depending on species.

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Predators

Most carnivores in the vole's range, from owls and hawks to coyotes, foxes, weasels, and cats, will eat voles.

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