Moreover, this agile creature is a fast runner and an accomplished climber. Bank Voles breed from March to October and an average of four young are born after a gestation period of 18-20 days. The bank vole is a small plump animal with a characteristic blunt vole face and small round ears. BTO's Head and Principal Ecologist, Gavin Siriwardena, explains how the urban landscape is affecting our wild bird populations. They often climb among bushes while foraging for food. Similar size to field vole (around 9-12cm) but tail proportionately longer than that of field vole, being 50% length of head & body, whilst field vole is 30% (this is the main distinctive feature … Adult Bank Voles have a rich chestnut-brown back compared to the grey-brown fur of the Field Vole. Bank Vole – Clethrionomys glareolus Distribution A common small rodent of woodland, scrub and hedgerows. Bank voles can be distinguished by their blunt nose, small eyes and ears, a richer, chestnut brown fur and a proportionally longer tail compared to the field vole. The bank vole is rich, chestnut-brown above, and white below. They also have a much longer tail than the Field Vole. Surveys. Distribution & Habitat Rounded snout, less prominent eyes than mice and ears are furry. The smallest vole in Britain, this animal is an excellent swimmer that is able to cross wide water streams. a gallery curated by bijoubaby. Field voles are not likely to be as common in gardens as bank voles but if you leave an area of your lawn un-mown during the summer then there is a … Four species of mice and voles sometimes cause damage in gardens. Occurs throughout the British mainland, but not quite so common in the more open country preferred by the very similar field vole. There are exceptions of course: water voles have long tails and harvest mice are often said to have vole-like proportions, as they have a more rounded muzzle and subtle ears and eyes. Catch up on a wealth of interesting talks and panels celebrating the efforts of BTO volunteers and members. They can live for 18 months. We will send you a monthly email newsletter including information on our latest research, projects to participate in, fundraising opportunities, events and interesting facts about birds. The ears barely extend beyond the fur … Compared to the bank vole, which has a rich chestnut coloured back and pale belly, the field vole is fairly bland in colour being grey-brown all over. Size: 90-115mm; tail is <40% of head and body. You can unsubscribe at any time. Indeed, this ‘spring decline’ has been documented for a number of rodent species. These voles rarely live longer than 12 months. They have small eyes, small ears and a blunt snout. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC), and its numbers remain stable. BTO doesn't currently contact supporters by telephone for promotional reasons. They eat berries, seeds, leaves and some insects, and though they are mostly found on the ground, they will climb for hedgerow fruits. 1455136 Charity No. The prairie vole is found in rather dry situations in the southern half of the state. The field vole is grey-brown above, and play grey below. Property owners wondering if they have a vole or mouse in the house are likely dealing with mice. What are mice and voles? Dark brown coat (on occasion can be black), visibly much darker than field vole.Tail 60% length of head & body, proportionately longer than field voles, which is 30%. The Field Vole (Microtus agrestis) is also known as the Short-tailed Vole. This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. It is richer in colour than the similar field vole and has a proportionally longer tail. On the canal bank. Red/brown on top, unlike yellowish or grey/brown of field vole. PROSIECT ADFER LYGOD DWY YNG NGHYMRU/ WATER VOLE RESEARCH PROJECT. The bank vole is a small rodent resembling a mouse when young but developing a stouter body, a slightly rounder head with smaller ears and eyes and a shorter, hairy tail. The field vole or short-tailed vole, Microtus agrestis, is a grey-brown vole, around 110mm in length, with only a short tail. Although they are active during the day, they are much less likely to be seen than bank voles because they rarely leave the safety of cover. Weight: 20-40g. Mice have more pointed muzzles, whilst voles have a more rounded muzzle. Life Span: The average life span of a field vole is up to 1 year. The coat is red-brown, the ears are prominent and the tail is long. Bank voles have large ears (but not as large as mice) which distinguish them from other UK vole species. A field vole’s tail is proportionally shorter (around a third of its head and body length), while a bank vole’s tail is about half the length of its head and body. They have small eyes, small ears and a blunt snout. The easiest way to tell them apart is to look at the tail. BTO currently promotes two appeals a year, and occasionally offers membership opportunities to non-members. Read our full Privacy Policy and Website Terms and Conditions of use. Field Voles as a rule appear much colder. Vole vs. Field vole, bank vole and woodmouse burrows are much smaller at only 2 – 3cms across. 2002). The Field Vole is one of the most common small rodents in the countrysides of Britain and Europe. The bank vole is found in much of Europe and in northwestern Asia. Males and females are similar in appearance but the young animals have greyer fur. They are larger than Field Voles, measuring about 13 to 17 cm long. The average life of the smaller vole species is three to six months. shorter than the bank vole, and fur is shaggier, covering the ears. It has chestnut brown fur fading to grey on the belly. The Field vole is common and widespread throughout its range but the global population size of this species is unknown. Mice have longer tails. The holes are … The ears are partly hidden in the fur which can at times appear rough, long and straggly. New report shows highs and lows of mammal conservation in Wales. The tail is dark on top and paler below. Mouse Problems. Water vole (Arvicola amphibius) The bank vole (Myodes glareolus; formerly Clethrionomys glareolus) is a small vole with red-brown fur and some grey patches, with a tail about half as long as its body. Mice have proportionately much larger, more prominent eyes and ears than voles (vole ears are often subtle and covered by fur). They breed between March and October, having 5-6 litters with 4-5 young in each. Field voles have a shorter tail (around 30% the length of its body, compared to 50% for the bank vole). They make tunnels and runs in thick grass and just underneath the soil surface. vole bank. The 2020 BTO Conference is available to view online. Bank Vole or Wood Vole, (Clethrionomys glareolus) This has rich reddish-brown fur on the back, a body length of about 100 -110mm and a weight of about 25g. They are herbivores eating seeds, roots, mosses and leaves and spend much of their time among vegetation living in runs and burrows and so are seldom seen. Voles have blunter, rounder faces, smaller ears and eyes, and shorter tails than mice. They boast a grey/brown coat as opposed to the warmer, more rustic red/brown of the Bank Vole. The Wildlife Trust have good ID pages for many animals, reptiles etc and I find they are generally worth a look if you aren't sure. Generally they are larger than bank voles however the size is variable especially as young ones are abundant during the summer months. The Field Vole Microtus agrestis has been present in the British Isles since the last glaciations but is not present in Ireland or some of the western islands. BTO doesn't currently contact supporters by text message for promotional reasons. Bank Voles prefer deciduous woodland, but use many other habitats including gardens as long as there is thick ground cover. It is a small plump vole (head and body 90-120 mm) with a short tail about a third of the body length. As an important food […] Field Voles as a rule appear much colder. Bank Voles generally forage during dawn and dusk. Orkney voles (Microtus arvalis orcadensis) are found only on the Orkney Islands in Scotland. Bank Voles are easily confused with Field Voles. Breeding female water vole burrow with grazed lawn at water’s edge. Water voles live near streams, rivers, ditches, ponds, lakes, and other wet places. BTO occasionally contacts supporters who have expressed an interest in volunteering for surveys, or have volunteered in the past, to promote participation in other surveys. Registered Charity Number 216652 (England & Wales), SC039193 (Scotland), © British Trust for Ornithology, BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU, Tel: +44 (0)1842 750050 Fax: +44 (0)1842 750030. They boast a grey/brown coat as opposed to the warmer, more rustic red/brown of the Bank Vole. However, according to The Mammal society, a recent population estimate put the number of Field voles in Britain at 75,000,000 individuals. Field Voles as a rule appear much colder. Bank Vole Myodes glareolus Bank Voles are easily confused with Field Voles. Urban & gardens, deciduous woodland, grassland, mixed woodland, heathland, arable land. Larger species, such as the European water vole, live longer and usually die during their second, or rarely their third, winter.As many as 88% of voles are estimated to die within the first month of life. Views: 52 T. Timbirder3 Well-known member. The field vole occurs typically in ungrazed grassland or in the early stages of forestry plantations but may also live in woodland, hedgerows, dunes, scree or moorland, wherever grass is available. The fur is usually less reddish than the bank vole and generally grey/brown. Water vole burrows appear as a series of holes along the water’s edge, some just above or at the water level on steep banks, others can be below the water level There can also be burrows occurring further up the bank, up to 3m from the water’s edge. Apr 11, 2018 #12 Bigger ears, redder fur, longer tail. It is very similar to the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) but the latter has red-brown fur, a longer tail and more prominent ears than the field vole. The young become independent after four weeks. The fur of the Field Vole also appears somewhat more unkempt, at times covering the ears and nose though after a good downpour or run in with a cat I am sure a Bank Vole could appear equally as bedraggled. Bank voles are good climbers and will often use the disused nest of a hedgerow bird as its … Bank Vole Read More » That is indeed a Bank Vole Adult Bank Voles have a rich chestnut-brown back compared to the grey-brown fur of the Field Vole. You can help water voles by surveying annually to find out where they are present or absent to detect any changes in their populations and distribution. Life Cycle Breeding season lasts from March to October, with females producing an average of four offspring after a gestation period of four weeks. Bank Voles forage day and night and feed on buds, leaves, fruit and some insects. Bank vole (Myodes glareolus) Red/brown on top, unlike yellowish or grey/brown of field vole. It is found throughout the British mainland, however, it is not resident in Ireland, the Isle of Man or Northern Isles. A rodent, it lives in woodland areas and is around 100 millimetres (3.9 in) in length. The eyes and ears of a field vole are also less prominent than those of a bank vole. Europe is home to 18 vole species, while in Britain we have only three: the bank, field (Microtus arvalis) and water vole (Arvicola amphibius). The field vole, also known as the short-tailed vole, is very common and widespread throughout mainland Britain and can be found in grassland, arable, wooded, heathland and moorland habitats. In a study on similar field vole populations, survival rates were lowest in spring (Newson & Chitty 1962), as were those of bank voles and wood mice in the United Kingdom (Telfer et al. Rounded snout and small eyes and ears (ears usually not visible, hidden under fur). They also have a much longer tail than the Field Vole. They are one of the most common mammals in Europe, ranging from the Atlantic coast to Lake Baikal. In yards, voles dig burrows and create pathways of dead grass, called runways, in lawns. They are found in moist grassy habitats, such as woodland, marsh, or river banks. Voles have blunter, rounder faces, smaller ears and eyes, and shorter tails than mice. Head and body length 9-12cm, tail length 1-5cm (tail about 30% of head and body length). The fur of the Field Vole also appears somewhat more unkempt, at times covering the ears and nose though after a good downpour or run in with a cat I am sure a Bank Vole could appear equally as bedraggled. The Bank vole is a mouse-like animal with a thick body. Similar size to field vole (around 9-12cm) but tail proportionately longer than that of field vole, being 50% length of head & body, whilst field vole is 30% (this is the main distinctive feature between the two as they are very similar). Design by Fingerprint Digital Media. The breeding period sometimes extends into the winter if there is enough food. The bank vole, on the other hand, lives in holes dug into hedge banks, under sheds, amongst tree roots, in log piles and various other locations which are more readily found in gardens. Of the two, field voles are much the commoner in Britain but because they are found in expanses of long grass they are infrequently found in gardens. The field vole is also called the short-tailed vole. The field vole can be found in a range of moist habitats, including woodland edges, river banks, wet grassland and parks. Phil Atkinson explains the technology behind tracking. Subscribe to our mailing list and receive regular e-bulletin packed full of mammal news and ways you can get involved with mammal conservation. Grey/brown fur above, creamy/grey fur below and a short tail. It has shaggier fur than the similar bank vole and a proportionally shorter tail (less than 30% of its body length). Registered Company No. Includes the latest news and updates from Mammal Society! They boast a grey/brown coat as opposed to the warmer, more rustic red/brown of the Bank Vole. Not to be confused with: the field vole. vole (Microtus arvalis orcadensis) which weighs about 90g. They also consume a variety of garden plants and eat the bark from trees. ... Lundy and Ireland; they are replaced by larger Orkney and Guernsey voles on the respective islands. Water vole much bigger than field vole, with head and body length of 14-22cm compared to 9-12cm. They nest in underground burrows. The fur of the Field Vole also appears somewhat more unkempt, at times covering the ears and nose though after a good downpour or run in with a cat I am sure a Bank Vole could appear equally as bedraggled. 278918Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions A Field Vole normally has small partially obscured ears, whereas the Bank Vole has larger ears that are less hidden by fur. 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