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Snow vole - MICROTUS NIVALIS
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The Name "Vole": "Vole" comes from the Swedish word "voll," which means "field," short for "field mouse."
Location: Central Europe and Asia.
Habitat: Terrestrial. Above the timberline on rocky mountainsides in sunny places.
Description: The fur is dense, soft, and a pale gray with a white tail. There are long whiskers on the snout. The vole reaches about seven inches long, one and one half inches of which are tail. It weighs about one and one half ounces.
Behavior: This vole is active both by day and by night. By day it is easy to spot, especially on fine sunny days. It feeds on alpine plants (the roots of various roses, primroses, carnations, etc.). It digs a system of tunnels with numerous exits, plus a nest chamber and a storeroom. It does not hibernate in winter and often takes shelter in cellars or barns or haylofts to protect itself from the cold. When it runs it holds its tail in an upright position.
Reproduction: During the short mountain summer, after a gestation period of three weeks, the female gives birth to two to seven young, which she suckles for another three weeks. She may bear two litters per season.
Go to the Rodents Page to learn more about all the gnawing animals.
Or go to the Vole Index to study other
voles.
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