Field vole (Microtus agrestis)
Field voles range across Europe and east into Asia. They are present on the UK mainland, but absent in Ireland and some islands. As they travel, field voles leave a trail of scent to warn off other voles. Hunting birds of prey, such as kestrels, look out for the UV light that radiates from the trails.
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Field voles
The Nature of Britain
Even beside busy motorways our commonest rodent finds food and shelter.
About the Field vole
The field vole or short-tailed vole, Microtus agrestis, is a grey-brown vole, around 110mm in length, with only a short tail. They are one of the most common mammals in Europe, ranging from the Atlantic coast to Lake Baikal. They are found in moist grassy habitats, such as woodland, marsh, or river banks. Although they dig burrows, they usually build nests above ground. As an important food source for owls and some other predators, their population peaks and troughs in a four-year cycle.
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The Field vole is
Adaptation data provided by Animal Diversity Web
Where can I see them?
This region contains the following habitats:
Species range provided by WWF's Wildfinder
Conservation Status
The Field vole is Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
- EX - Extinct
- EW
- CR - Threatened
- EN - Threatened
- VU - Threatened
- NT
- LC - Least concern
Population trend: Stable
Year assessed: 2008
Elsewhere on the web
- Field vole - Microtus agrestis (arkive.org)
- Microtus agrestis (animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu)
- The Mammal Society: fact file (abdn.ac.uk)
- Young People's Trust: fact file (ypte.org.uk)
- Field Vole (wikipedia.org)
Site links
BBC links
© MMIX
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