Vole
Voles are small rodents in the subfamily Arvicolinae, closely related to lemmings and muskrats.
A vole is a small rodent that looks like a mouse but has a stockier body, shorter tail, and smaller ears. These common Canadian rodents belong to the subfamily Arvicolinae, alongside lemmings and muskrats.
What it is
Voles are small mammals in the subfamily Arvicolinae, family Cricetidae. They are often called meadow mice or field mice. Voles have blunt muzzles, small eyes and ears, and tails shorter than the body. They are stockier than mice, which helps distinguish them.
Where it lives and what it eats
Voles inhabit meadows, grasslands, forests, tundra, and other vegetated habitats across the Northern Hemisphere. In Canada, they are common in fields and gardens. Their diet is mainly plant material: grasses, roots, bulbs, stems, and leaves. Some species also eat insects and fungi.
Why it matters
Voles can be agricultural and garden pests, feeding on roots, bulbs, and stems. They are familiar to Canadian gardeners and farmers. Control measures often involve reducing cover, using barriers, or trapping. Despite their pest status, voles play a role in the ecosystem as prey for many predators.
In short
- Voles are mouselike rodents with stout bodies, short tails, and small ears.
- They are classified with lemmings and muskrats in the subfamily Arvicolinae.
- Voles eat mostly plants and can damage crops and gardens.
- They live across Canada in various habitats.
Voles are common across Canada, where they live in grasslands, forests, meadows, and other vegetated habitats and are familiar to gardeners, farmers, and wildlife observers.
Quick questions
What is a vole?
What is the difference between a vole and a mouse?
How do I get rid of voles?
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/animal/voleSupports: Classification, physical traits, habitat range, diet, and general biology of voles.
- Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/voleSupports: Definition describing voles as small rodents with stout bodies, blunt noses, and short ears.
- Cambridge Dictionary — https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/voleSupports: Definition describing voles as small animals similar to mice with thick bodies, short tails, and small ears.
- Oxford Learner's Dictionaries — https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/voleSupports: Definition and habitat note for voles as mouse-like animals living in fields or near rivers.
- Britannica Dictionary — https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/voleSupports: Plain-language definition and note that voles can be harmful to crops and gardens.