Found a Field (Short Tailed) Vole

C8 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 10:41 AM

Hi all

Bit new to this, but have a problem.

last night whilst doing the ponies I saw the yard cat playing with what i thought was some horse poo.... it wasn't. It was a Short tailed Vole. It had a bit of blood round it's eye, and there was no where safe to put it down the yard so i thought i would keep it warm and release it tomorrow, issue is that there is blood round it's left eye. i popped my finger in front of the eye and it didn't flinch. i've put it in my rat carrier (disinfected it first of course). This morning it's sooo active. Problem is the eye still isn't reacting to my finger. I rang the Wildlife Hospital and they said i should keep it for a few days until it gets warmer. Then if it's eye is ok set it free, if not i've got to ring her back.

I'm really not into keeping wild animals as pets, however, if there's nothing wrong with the vole but it's chance of survival is slim due to only having the use of one eye, would it be better for it??? or should nature take it's course? i'm going to ask the Wildlife lady this question later but wondered what your thoughts were?

Gill Catton · #2 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 11:07 AM

Although I too am not massively in favour of keeping wild animals in captivity, it is a harsh place out there at the moment and if it is disabled I don't see any major harm in keeping it in captivity so long as it doesn't appear to stressed in such an environment (in which case it may be kinder to humanely destroy it).

There is a strong chance though that bacteria from the cats claws may result in infection which kills it anyway so don't get your hopes up.

tough world out there especially for the small and furry

C8 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 11:31 AM

thank you... we'll have to see. I'm going to transfer it into a bigger cage later and put hidey place in. There isn't really anything i can give antibiotic wise so it's just a waiting game. Although looking perkier all the time. Just need some more ideas as to food. I was wondering, 'if' he makes it! would it be ok on it's own or should i let the Wildlife Rescue know that if they get another that is 'disabled' but healthy that i could have it for a friend? obviously need to check sex, don't want to have babies!!!

Gill Catton · #4 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C8

thank you... we'll have to see. I'm going to transfer it into a bigger cage later and put hidey place in. There isn't really anything i can give antibiotic wise so it's just a waiting game. Although looking perkier all the time. Just need some more ideas as to food. I was wondering, 'if' he makes it! would it be ok on it's own or should i let the Wildlife Rescue know that if they get another that is 'disabled' but healthy that i could have it for a friend? obviously need to check sex, don't want to have babies!!!

I should think it will be fine on its own though an old fish tank may be better than a cage as they can squeeze out of very narrow gaps and perhaps hamster food? Bird seed until you can get some.

C8 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 12:52 PM

I have rats so i'll try and find something, or buy a little bag of hamster, he had a bit of museli this morning. I meant a fish tank .. sorry.. I got one down from the loft to clean this morning. Would shavings be best or just hay?

Gill Catton · #6 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C8

I have rats so i'll try and find something, or buy a little bag of hamster, he had a bit of museli this morning. I meant a fish tank .. sorry.. I got one down from the loft to clean this morning. Would shavings be best or just hay?

I am by no means an expert but I'd imagine hamster food may well be better than rat food as often foods are tailored to the specific species and rats are omnivores whereas voles I think are largely vegetarian like hamsters.

Not sure, I suppose hay is closest to what they use in the wild, have you got a section of loose bark or something it could construct the nest under?
I often field /bank vole nests underneath my reptile survey tiles suggesting that they perhaps like to build the nest under something.

C8 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 02:36 PM

I feed my rats on a homemade diet so i was going to see what i could muster out of that!!

I've been reading up and noticed they can have; blackberries (this time of year they'll have to be supermarket ones!), lettace, sunflower seeds, nuts and clover. I thought i might go and buy a willow ball from the pet shop for it to make as a home, can't get bark until the weekend, but might cut up some hay to see if that would be ok as flooring

Dogghound · #8 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 02:44 PM

Its also worth noting that they have quite poor eye sight as it is, mostly relying on touch, smell and hearing to get around nd stay safe. As long as there is no infection I would release it ASAP along a hedgerow, wasteland, overgrown field near the yard. They are very hardy and abit of a British winter isnt likely to cause it to many problems. They are found rite up to tip of Norway near the arctic. They mainly eat grasses and bark with suplimentary insects in the wild so in the short while you keep it I dont see rat food causing a problem.

Gill Catton · #9 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Its also worth noting that they have quite poor eye sight as it is, mostly relying on touch, smell and hearing to get around nd stay safe. As long as there is no infection I would release it ASAP along a hedgerow, wasteland, overgrown field near the yard. They are very hardy and abit of a British winter isnt likely to cause it to many problems. They are found rite up to tip of Norway near the arctic. They mainly eat grasses and bark with suplimentary insects in the wild so in the short while you keep it I dont see rat food causing a problem.

I definately still learning about their ecology but won't most voles currently be living on cached food? Might a new comer to a territory struggle to find food perhaps at the moment? Or do you think it might be possible to fatten it up enough that it can sleep through the worst weather? Or could you potentially provide it with a cache of food at a release site?

Dogghound · #10 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 02:58 PM

Field Voles usually remain quite active through winter so wont sleep through the worst weather, they usually feed on grasses so there is not normally the need to cache their food as they have plenty through the year, although will sometimes cache grass they can soon build up these reserves, unlike species like wood mice (even bank voles to an extent in northern countries) which actively cache nuts etc. As long as their is high grass, and fresh vegetation to create cover and food then they should be fine. They often eat alot more bark during the winter, but again this is not cached but eaten direct from the tree.