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.