Meadow Vole
From Ohio History Central
Facts
| Scientific Name: | Microtus pennsylvannicus |
| Habitat: | Thick, grassy field, woods with open areas, marshes and swamps |
| Adult Weight: | 3/4 - 2 1/2 oz. |
| Adult Body Length: | 5 1/2 - 7 3/4 inches |
| Breeding Period: | Throughout the year |
| Litters Per Year: | 4 - 6 |
| Litter Size: | 6 - 7 |
| Life Expectancy: | less than one year |
| Foods: | Herbivore - Green shoots, leaves, stems, seeds and grasses. |
Notes
The Meadow Vole is found throughout Ohio. They have short, brown fur, with a gray or silver stomach. Their head is short and rounded with very small eyes and ears that are hidden by fur.
Meadow Voles make extensive underground tunnels. Above ground, they make "runways" through the grass. These are easily seen, even after snow melts.
Meadow Voles are active both day and night, making them excellent prey for predators such as the Massasauga Rattlesnake and the Barn Owl.