What is the matter with this water vole's fur?

[Dutchess]

Originally Posted by vole-woman

I'm not an authority - wish I was! Is scruffing when a male vole holds a female by the scruff while he mounts her? I think I've seen a pair of water voles that, a couple of years ago.

Anway, this vole should be easy to recognize, so I'll keep an eye out for how he/she's doing.

Ok, so rabbits are not rodents, but I can confirm that the male "scruffs" the female during mating. Usually only a tuft of fur is pulled out, no actual injury is sustained (in fact the buck is more likely to get bitten by a moody doe!) He may nip her ear by mistake (ouch) but I have never seen blood drawn through scruffing.

hth!

D.

[shirl]

I found a water vole last year with a similar looking injury but towards the end of the back, it also was running, feeding and swimming perfectly OK, so mobility wasn't an issue. One possible cause could have been some sort of predator which grabbed it, but we never really came to any firm conclusion.

Shirl

[vole-woman]

Interesting, Shirl. I suppose as long as the wound doesn't get infected, the vole's OK.

[shirl]

Originally Posted by vole-woman

Interesting, Shirl. I suppose as long as the wound doesn't get infected, the vole's OK.

I suppose in the wild these things happen, and the stronger of the species are the ones that survive. As far as I know there was no deterioration in that one, hopefully she will have new babies all yar this year.

Shirl