Gray-tailed Vole
Microtus canicaudus
Conservation Status
Least ConcernMammalia · Rodentia · Cricetidae
About
The gray-tailed vole also known as the gray-tailed meadow vole or gray-tailed meadow mouse, is a rodent in the genus Microtus of the family Cricetidae. Voles are small mammals, and this species lies roughly in the middle of their size range. First collected in 1895, it is endemic to the Willamette Valley, Oregon, and Clark County, Washington, in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Historically, they were found in the prairie areas of the Valley and, though many of these areas have been converted for agricultural purposes, these animals remain common. For reasons that remain unclear, vole population densities in any area may fluctuate widely from season to season and year to year. They are preyed upon by owls, hawks, and carnivorous mammals, and their parasites include fleas and ticks. These voles build burrows and complex tunnel networks, which they sometimes share with other burrowing animals. Relatively little is known about their behavior in the wild, because they are elusive and unlikely to enter traps.
Fun Fact
Voles are small mammals, and this species lies roughly in the middle of their size range.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Endemic to the Willamette Valley, Oregon, and to Clark County, Washington.
Diet
To be updated
Lifespan
To be updated
Threats
- Habitat Change
- Human Disturbance