Is this a Vole?

[Bec on the ball]

Hi All

This little chap was brought in by my cat last night



He gave us a good run around and was very noisy, taking about 20 mins to catch him. We got this lovely photo before releasing him back into the garden. The cat spent most of the night looking under the cupboards for him (she's not the sharpest knife in the drawer)

I think he's a vole but can anyone confirm this please. He was about 2 1/2 inches long in the body.

Thanks
Becky

[vole-woman]

Definitely a vole. His tail's very short (short-tailed vole?) unless it's been bitten off in some encounter with a predator. I'd go for bank vole, but someone here will be along soon with proper expert knowledge.