Rock Vole
Encyclopedia
The Rock Vole is a medium-sized vole
found in eastern North America
. It is also called the Yellow-nosed Vole.
These animals are similar in appearance to the larger Taiga Vole
. They have short ears and a long tail which is paler underneath. Their fur is greyish brown with grey underparts and a yellowish nose. They are 15 cm long with a 5 cm tail and weigh about 39 g.
They are found on moist rocky slopes in eastern Canada
and the northeastern United States
. They make runways through the surface growth and shallow underground burrow
s. They are usually found in small colonies.
They feed on grasses, moss
es, underground fungi
and berries (especially bunchberry
), and also sometimes on caterpillar
s. Predators include hawk
s, owl
s, snakes and small carnivorous
mammals.
The female vole has 2 or 3 litters of 4 to 7 young.
They are active year-round, mainly during the day.
This animal is rarely seen. It has been designated as a species of concern in some parts of its range.
Vole
A vole is a small rodent resembling a mouse but with a stouter body, a shorter hairy tail, a slightly rounder head, smaller ears and eyes, and differently formed molars . There are approximately 155 species of voles. They are sometimes known as meadow mice or field mice in North America...
found in eastern North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. It is also called the Yellow-nosed Vole.
These animals are similar in appearance to the larger Taiga Vole
Taiga Vole
The Taiga Vole, Microtus xanthognathus, is a large vole found in northwestern North America, including Alaska and northwestern Canada. It is also sometimes called the Yellow-cheeked Vole or Chestnut-cheeked Vole....
. They have short ears and a long tail which is paler underneath. Their fur is greyish brown with grey underparts and a yellowish nose. They are 15 cm long with a 5 cm tail and weigh about 39 g.
They are found on moist rocky slopes in eastern Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the northeastern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. They make runways through the surface growth and shallow underground burrow
Burrow
A burrow is a hole or tunnel dug into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct of locomotion. Burrows provide a form of shelter against predation and exposure to the elements, so the burrowing way of life is quite popular among the...
s. They are usually found in small colonies.
They feed on grasses, moss
Moss
Mosses are small, soft plants that are typically 1–10 cm tall, though some species are much larger. They commonly grow close together in clumps or mats in damp or shady locations. They do not have flowers or seeds, and their simple leaves cover the thin wiry stems...
es, underground fungi
Fungus
A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
and berries (especially bunchberry
Bunchberry
Bunchberry is a common name for two species of dwarf dogwoods:*Cornus canadensis - Canadian or Eastern Bunchberry*Cornus suecica - Eurasian or Northern Bunchberry...
), and also sometimes on caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
s. Predators include hawk
Hawk
The term hawk can be used in several ways:* In strict usage in Australia and Africa, to mean any of the species in the subfamily Accipitrinae, which comprises the genera Accipiter, Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis and Megatriorchis. The large and widespread Accipiter genus includes goshawks,...
s, owl
Owl
Owls are a group of birds that belong to the order Strigiformes, constituting 200 bird of prey species. Most are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions . Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish...
s, snakes and small carnivorous
Carnivore
A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging...
mammals.
The female vole has 2 or 3 litters of 4 to 7 young.
They are active year-round, mainly during the day.
This animal is rarely seen. It has been designated as a species of concern in some parts of its range.