Quote:
Originally Posted by Whatever
What you are seeing is the Village Vole which resembles a mouse and/or rat and are quite prolific. They are also a favorite food of most of the other wildlife we have in The Villages. Primarily, they are the favorite food of snakes,owls, hawks and coyotes. IMO pehaps we ought have the VCDD invest in purchasing some additional snakes, and release them into our most overrun villages so as to feed upon the rodents and keep them under control. They, the voles, have about 4 litters a year and grow exponentially.
Next year we can discuss getting rid of the snakes.
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I had no luck trying to copy the hyperlink........but this is what I found on voles.......the link would have been better as it showed various pictures.
Vole Species
Meadow Vole
Florida Salt Marsh Vole
Arctic Voles
Southern Red-back Voles
Bank Vole
Water Vole
Prairie Vole
CA Vole
Red-backed Vole
Snow Vole
Vole FAQ
What a Vole Looks Like
What do Voles Eat
What is a Vole
Mole & Vole Difference
Vole Control
How to get rid of Voles
How to Kill Voles
Vole Picture
Field Mice Classification
Vole Species - Approximately 70 vole species have been discovered which include: meadow Vole, Florida salt marsh vole, Arctic voles, southern red-back voles, bank vole, water vole, CA vole and red-backed vole.
The meadow vole is one of the most common species of vole. Meadow Vole behavior is consistent with that of most vole species in that it is mainly nocturnal. The meadow vole life cycle is usually complete in less than a year.
Meadow Vole
Microtus pennsylvanicus is the most widespread vole in North America. Its east to west range is continuous from central Alaska to the Atlantic coast. South of the Canadian border, the meadow vole's western limit is the Rocky mountains. It can also be found as far south as the states of New Mexico and Georgia.
Meadow voles eat mainly green vegetation
This is invariably the familiar 'mouse' that you see scurrying about in grassy meadows or stubble fields on your outdoor rambles. Meadow voles have a body about 4 inches long and a tail of about 1 1/2 inches. They weigh roughly 1 l/2 ounces and their ears are short. The back and sides are grayish brown and belly is much lighter. These small mammals can be distinguished from mice by their relatively short tail.
The Meadow Vole is active usually at night and only occasionally during the day. The diet of this vole consists almost entirely of green vegetation and tubers, including many grasses, clover, and plantain. The animal produces grass cuttings as it reaches up and cuts off the stalk, pulls it down and cuts it again, until the seed heads are reached. The vole apparently consumes flowers, leaves, and all but the tough outer layer of the stalk, eating almost its own weight daily.
The most relevant links we could find, placed here free
FCPS - This page has information about meadow voles as well as pictures and video clips.
www.fcps.k12.va.us
Animal Diversity - This page lots of information about the characteristics and behaviour of meadow voles. animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu
Like many vole species it constructs a system of surface runways and underground burrows. The spherical grass nest may be located in the burrows in summer or in a depression on the surface under matted vegetation. In the wintertime, the vole's life changes. They live above ground, but under the snow where it is warmer than the open air. Meadow voles must find food above ground and they will gnaw on the bark of bushes for nourishment, leaving behind fine tooth marks.
Meadow voles live in burrows
Female voles have three to six litters of four to seven young in a year and most voles live much less than a year. The vole population in any given area tends to pass through a boom and bust cycle over a three- or four-year period. Although these animals tend to live close together, they are aggressive towards each other. This is particularly evident in males during the breeding season. They can cause damage to fruit trees, garden plants and commercial grain crops.
Again, I TRIED TO COPY AND PASTE THE HYPERLINK TO THIS, BUT IT WOULDN'T WORK............but now it sounds like voles are common field mice???????
The Florida voles seem to be on the endangered species list. Those would be the salt marsh voles.....limited to a certain area near Cedar Key.
I do remember when a vole walked past President Obama's podium and was caught on camera; everyone thought it was the "other critter" but experts then claimed it was a vole.
Also, while in South Dakota enroute to Mount Rushmore we thought that the prairie dogs (big rat like things) who scurried around our feet in and out of their holes........were adorable. Guess other critters just get a bad rap. But up here, field mice have long tails........these voles are FURRIER with short tails.