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Southern Red-backed Vole
(Clethrionomys gapperi)
From: Saunders, D. A. 1988. Adirondack Mammals. State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry. 216pp
Order: RodentiaFamily: Cricetidae
Range and HabitatThe range is the forested regions of Canada, the northern U.S. And the Northeast; to southwestern New Mexico and Arizona in the Rockies; and to northern Georgia in the Appalachians. The southern red-backed vole occurs in all terrestrial habitats of the Adirondacks including alpine tundra, bogs, and swamp edges, and at all elevations. However, it prefers moist forests, especially the mixed coniferous-deciduous, with an abundant supply of logs, stumps, roots, rocks, and twigs which provide shelter, food, and moisture or humidity. Population levels, precipitation, and the relative abundance of other small mammals such as meadow vole influence local distribution in marginal habitat.
Red-backed voles build nest 7.6-10.2 cm (3-4 in) in diameter from plant materials such as sphagnum and dried leaves under logs and stumps; in the abandoned nests and dens of other mammals; but occasionally in trees or underground.
Food and Feeding BehaviorThe red-backed vole is primarily an herbivore, although it eats small invertebrates infrequently. A diet of fruit, succulent vegetation, and especially fungi that it excavates from the forest floor indicates that dependence of this species on water, which is acquired from both food, and by drinking. In autumn, voles cache seeds, nuts, and roots near their nests for winter consumption, but the bark of deciduous trees and shrubs may be an important winter food when these are unavailable.
Activity and MovementAlthough capable of jumping 15-20 cm (6-8 in) over obstacles, a red-backed vole usually travels by hoping, walking, or running. It swims and climbs well, and may forage in trees 2-3 m (7-10 ft) above the ground. During the winter, this vole is active during daylight hours under snow cover; during the rest of the year, the red-backed vole is primarily active at twilight or night.
ReproductionFemales bear 2-3 litters from late winter to late autumn, and may mate within 12 hours after giving birth. The average litter size is 4 or 5, but can vary from 2-8. The gestation period is 17-19 days. The young are weaned by 17-21 days of age. Age at sexual maturity is 60 days for females, somewhat longer for males. Few red-backed voles live 20 months, the potential life span. Most survive less than one year.
PredatorsMerriam state that "the flesh of the red-backed mouse is tender and well flavored." (p 272) While few of us would test his judgment, many predators consume this rodent. A few of the Adirondack representatives are coyotes, short-tailed shrews, fishers, foxes, and broad-winged hawks.
Social BehaviorFisher, R.L. 1968. An ecological study of the red-backed vole, Clethrionomys gapperi gapperi (Vigors) in central New York. Unpubl. Ph. D. Disset., Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY. 79pp.
Getz, L.L. And V. Ginzberg. 1968. Arboreal behavior of the red-backed vole, Clethrionomys gapperi. Animal Behavior, 16:418-424.
Hatt, R. T. 1930. The biology of the voles of New York. Roosevelt Wildlife Bulletin, 5(4):513-623.
Kirkland, G.L. Jr., and R.J. Griffin. 1974. Micro-distribution of small mammals of coniferous-deciduous forest ecotones in northern New York. Journal of Mammalogy, 55:417-427.
Martell, A.M. 1981. Food habits of southern red-backed voles (Clethrionomys gapperi) in northern Ontario. Canadian Field Naturalist, 95:325-328.
Merritt, J.F. 1981. Clethrionomys gapperi. Mammalian Species, 146:1-9.
Patric, E.F. 1962. Reproductive characteristics of red-backed mouse during years of differing population densities. Journal of Mammalogy, 43:200-205.
Steblein, P.F. 1984. Niche-habitat relations of red-backed vole, Clethrionomys gapperi (Vigors) from New York and Pennsylvania. Unpubl. M.S. Thesis, Shippensburg Univ., Shippensburg, PA. 84pp.
Rock Vole
(Microtus chrotorrhinus Miller)
From: Saunders, D. A. 1988. Adirondack Mammals. State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry. 216pp
Order: RodentiaFamily: Cricetidae
Range and HabitatThe range is from the northeastern Minnesota to northeastern Canada and southward in the U. S. To North Carolina and Tennessee. Within this geographic area, the rock vole occurs in small populations in scattered locations. This limited distribution is a consequence of habitat preference, and to come extent, results from the life style which makes this species difficult to capture. Thus, information about distribution is incomplete. Fewer then 300 specimens exist for the Adirondacks and these are mainly for Essex County (with one site nearby in Huntington Wildlife Forest, Hamilton County). Elevations range from 457 m (1,476 ft) at St. Hubert's to 1,478 m (4,848 ft) on Whiteface Mountain. Rock voles are also likely to occur in other locations in the Adirondack Park.
As the name suggests, this species usually lives among the rocks suck as talus slopes, rocky outcrops, and boulder strewn floors of coniferous, deciduous, and mixed deciduous-coniferous forests in cool areas near flowing or subsurface water, mosses, ferns, and forbs. Rock voles build nests of plant fibers and Sphagnum in rock crevices, under rocks or logs.
Food and Feeding BehaviorMuch of the life history of this species, sometimes described as one of the rarest North American voles, is sketchy or known only from a few studies in limited parts of the range. Fortunately, some of these studies have been conducted in the Adirondacks or nearby states. They indicate green vegetation constitutes most of the diet, with a few invertebrate and small quantities of fungi ingested as well. Mosses, ferns, fruit such as blackberries, and other plants, e.G. Mountain avens, mountain alder, goldenrod, and bunchberry form the bulk of the diet. Captive rock voles, when offered the berries from several plants eat not only the berries and flowers of the bunchberry first, but also the entire plant before sampling other fruit. The rock vole cuts plant leaves and other plant parts and carries then to cracks between rocks, or under rocks and logs before consuming them.
Activity and MovementRock voles are active throughout the season, day and night, possibly foraging more in the morning than other times of the day. A substantial part of their activity is subsurface runs or burrows.
ReproductionThe breeding season is from late March until mid-October with 2-3 litters of 1-7 (average 3-4) young produced during this time. The gestation period is 19-21 days.
PredatorsThe bobcat and timber rattlesnake are predators known to prey upon rock voles.
Social BehaviorCrowell, K.L. 1980. High Peaks mystery mouse. Adirondack Life, 11(3):34-36.
French, T.W. And K.L. Crowell. 1985. Distribution and status of the yellow-nosed vole and rock shrew in New York. New York Fish and Game Journal, 32: 26-40.
Kilpatrick, C.W. And K.L. Crowell. 1985. Genetic variation of the rock vole, Microtus chrotorrhinus. Journal of Mammalogy, 66:94-101.
Kirkland, G.L., Jr. And R.J. Griffin. 1974. Microdistribution of small mammals at the coniferous -deciduous forest ecotone in northern New York. Journal of Mammalogy, 55:417-427.
Martin, R.L. 1971. The natural history and taxonomy of the rock vole, Microtus chrotorrhinus. Ph.D. Thesis. Univ. Conn., Storrs, CT.
Timm, R.M., L.R. Heaney and D.D. Baird. 1977. Natural history of rock voles (Microtus chrotorrhinus) in Minnesota. Canadian Field Naturalist, 91:177-181.
Whitaker, J.O., Jr. And R.L. Martin. 1977. Food habits of Microtus chrotorrhinus from New Hampshire, New York, Labrador, and Quebec. Journal of Mammalogy, 58:99-100.
Endangered Water Vole Makes Home In City Park
The water vole, which is on the red list of threatened species, has appeared in Hull Road Park in York for the first time
Water voles - a species that has declined by 90% in the past 30 years - have made their home in a park in York, it has been confirmed.
The creatures, which are on the red list of threatened species, have recently appeared in Hull Road Park in York for the first time.
They have been found living along the vegetated banks of Osbaldwick Beck which runs through the park, following a seven-year project to improve the wildlife habitat in the area.
Gail Hammond, environment programme manager at the Environment Agency, said: "There is still much to be done but the recent sightings in York can give us hope that when people work together for wildlife that species can recover."
Water voles are Britain's largest vole species, with a rounded face, blunt nose, small ears and dark brown or almost black fur.
They can often be identified from the distinctive plop sound they make when they dive into the water.
Their appearance in Osbaldwick Beck has been hailed as a success for the York Urban Becks project, which started in 2017 and saw the Environment Agency work with partners to restore wildlife habitat in the city.
The organisation focused on working with environmental charity St Nicks to encourage water voles along Tang Hall and Osbaldwick becks.
As a result, voles have now appeared all along the beck, including at Hull Road Park, which lies close to an urban area.
'Ecosystem engineers'
Jonathan Dent, from St Nicks in York, said: "We've had some very clear sightings over the last few weeks and identified field signs during in-stream surveys that 100% confirm their presence."
It is now hoped the success of water vole introduction in the area will lead to even more improved biodiversity along York's waterways.
"Water voles are fondly referred to as ecosystem engineers, their burrowing and feeding activity supports biodiversity, creating opportunities for wetland plants and other animals to thrive, so... We should see even more diversity developing within the beck habitat," Mr Dent said.
Councillor Jenny Kent, from City of York Council, said: "Water voles in York is great news – for them and for York's environment.
"It's a real tribute to the hard work of all our partners and volunteers in this scheme, which is hugely valued."
Wildlife charity makes plea to protect water voles
Water voles to benefit from £25m landscapes scheme
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