Meadow Voles

Physical characteristics. Meadow voles' eyes are not covered by fur, and their ears (partly covered by hair) are also visible. The tail is longer than the hind legs. Their fur is dark brown, often silvery on the underside. The adult meadow vole ranges from 3.5 to 5 inches in length and weighs 1 to 2.5 ounces.

Reproduction. Female meadow voles have a gestation period of three weeks, have an average litter size of five, and produce four to five litters per year. They reach sexual maturity at 40 days and have a reproductive life span of 1 to 2 years.

Ecology. Meadow voles spend most of their lives above the ground, living in and feeding on grasses. They have larger home ranges than pine voles and may travel as far as 1/4 mile in a week. The typical habitat for meadow voles is a grassy meadow, particularly in places where the grasses grow in clumps. Tall fescue in orchards, lightly grazed pastures, and old fields are typical habitats.

Signs of Activity

Meadow Voles

Signs of meadow voles are found mostly above the ground in taller grasses and cover. Look for trails in the grass and grass clippings, and check for feces at the base of large clumps of grass. The feces may be brown or green in color, are shaped like wheat grains, and are frequently left in small piles. Typically, meadow voles girdle trees and saplings at the ground line. Close inspection of the damage will reveal paired grooves left by their chisel-like teeth. The grooves will be about 1/16-inch wide. Girdling completely around the tree trunk will kill the tree, so any indication of above-ground damage is cause for instituting a control program.

Rabbits also chew on young trees, but the girdling begins several inches above the soil line. Rabbits have much larger incisor teeth than voles, which will be reflected in the size of grooves on the girdled tree. Rabbit damage can be controlled with a plastic tree guard, but these devices will not prevent meadow vole damage.

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