Woodland voles

Woodland voles

Features: The Woodland Vole (Microtis pinetorum) is a small (20-37 g), grayish-brown rodent with small ears and a short tail. In Ontario, it lives in mature deciduous forest where there is a deep litter layer that allows it to burrow. Their bodies have become modified for their partially subterranean habitat by a reduction of the eyes, external ears, and tail. Their front claws are also somewhat enlarged for digging. Woodland Voles are herbivores, with cheek teeth adapted to chewing plant stems, bulbs and seeds. Rarely active above ground, they use a system of tunnels, covered runways and burrows to move about. They can remain active in winter, especially in years of good snow cover, when they will supplement their diet with tree bark. Voles have short lifespans - typically one year or less - but a female can produce 3-5 litters of pups in her lifetime. Each litter usually numbers four pups. Pine voles are monogamous, and males and females participate in parental care of the young. In Ontario, the breeding season is confined to warmer weather between May and October. During this time, a pair may have four litters.

Status: Special Concern Provincially and Nationally

Threats: In Ontario, the Woodland Vole is at the northern limit of its range and may never have been abundant here. Where it has been found in Ontario, the population densities are low. The main threat to the species in Ontario is forest clearance.

Protection: Many of the sites where Woodland Voles live in Ontario are protected. The species is present at the Pinery Provincial Park.

The wolverine

THE WOLVERINE
The wolverine is not related to the wolf or the bear. It is the largest member of the weasel family.
This animal is found throughout Canada, including the Arctic region.
The wolverine eats mice, rats and other small mammals, birds and eggs. In winter, when snow covers the ground, it eats reindeer and other large prey.
Often it lets other animals do the hunting. Then it chases the hunter away by showing its teeth and growling fiercely. Then the wolverine is left to eat the kill.
The wolverine uses its large teeth and powerful jaws to crush large bones and eat frozen meat.
It will fight other wolverines to defend its territory.
Like the skunk, it has a strong-smelling fluid called muskwhich it uses to warn others to stay away.
The thick coat of brown fur protects it from the freezing cold temperatures. Its large feet help it move across the soft snow. There are five long sharp claws on each foot. The claws are used for climbing and digging.
Wolverines are not fast movers, so they do not chase or stalk their prey. But they are good climbers and often rest in trees. They pounce on their prey from trees or rocks.
The female has one litter every two or three years. She digs a den with tunnels in a snowdrift that is near piles of rocks. Two or three "kits" are born.
Wolverines can live up to 13 years. They are not yet an endangered species, but their numbers are declining.