Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Bank Vole
Scientific Name:
Myodes glareolus
Weight:
15-40g
Lifespan:
Up to 18 months Description
As the UK's smallest vole, the adult Bank Vole has a reddy-brown coat with a rounded, mouse-like appearance, prominent ears and a long tail. An agile creature, the Bank Vole can move fast over most terrain and it is also a very capable climber and swimmer.
Distribution
The Bank Vole is found throughout most of the British Isles, but may not inhabit some of the smaller islands.
Habitat
Usually found in woodland and thick undergrowth as well as riverbanks and hedgerows, and amongst brambles and bracken.
Predators
Owls, foxes and weasels. The Bank Vole often uses a network of tunnels, that it has produced in dense undergrowth, to make it's way about in search of food and reduce the risk of being found by predators.
Reproduction
Usually born anytime between April and October, the litter often contains three to five young and a mother can often produce as many as five litters in a year. As with most rodents, the life expectancy is short with about only a half living beyond four months. However, where the conditions are right, a bank vole can live for between 18 months and 2 years. The young are blind and hairless when first born and they spend the first weeks being weaned on their mother's milk, in an underground nest - nests above ground perhaps in tree crevises are sometimes built - that is usually lined with moss and feathers.
Status
Bank Voles are not considered to be an endangered species, being fairly common creatures.
Did You Know?
There were no known Bank Voles in Ireland until 1964.
Footprint Description
4 digital pads on forefoot,with 5 paml pads.Hind foot has 5 digital pads, and 6 palm pads. tracks will only be visible on very soft ground. Hand outlines often present when tracks are visible.
Footprint Size
hind foot - 1.5x1.7cm, fore foot - 1.1x1.3cm.
Droppings Description
Droppings are round in cross section,with a diameter of around 0.4cm and a length approx 0.8cm.Dark brown or black when fresh, drying