VOLE IDENTIFICATION:
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| PRAIRIE VOLE | MEADOW VOLE | LONG-TAILED VOLE | WOODLAND VOLE |
| PINE VOLE | MONTANE VOLE | MEXICAN VOLE | WATER VOLE |
Pest Control Gallery of Pests Vole Elimination
Identification of VOLES
Meadow voles (also called meadow mice, field mice, etc.) belong to the order Rodentia, genus Microtus. Voles are compact animals with stocky bodies, short legs and a short tail. Their eyes are small and their ears partially hidden. Their under-fur is generally dense and covered with thicker, longer guard hairs. They usually are brown or gray, though many color variations exist.
Seven species inhabit the 10 Great Plains states: Prairie Vole (Microtus ochrogaster), Meadow Vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus), Long-tailed Vole (Microtus longicaudus), Pine or Woodland Vole (Microtus pinetorum), Montane Vole (Microtus montanus), Mexican Vole (Microtus mexicanus) and the Water Vole (Microtus richardson.) To read about any individual vole species, click on its link.
Tentative identification of a particular animal may be made using species descriptions, habitat descriptions and range. For positive identification (once these vole descriptions have been exhausted) consult your local County Agent.