Voles are small, rodent-like mammals common in various Northern Hemisphere habitats. Often mistaken for mice, these compact creatures are sometimes called meadow mice or field mice. This article explores their coloration, how it varies, its biological purpose, and how color, combined with other physical traits, helps distinguish them from other small rodents.
Common Vole Colors
Voles exhibit earthy colors, primarily shades of brown and gray, ranging from light tan to dark brown or muted gray-brown. Many species have a “peppery” look from mixed gray, yellow, or hazel-tipped hairs. Their fur is dense and soft, sometimes described as slightly coarse or velvety.
Many vole species have a lighter underside. This belly fur is creamy, light gray, yellowish, or whitish, contrasting with their darker backs and sides. For example, the meadow vole has a creamy white belly, while the prairie vole’s underparts are gray to yellow-gray.
Color Variations Among Species
Vole coloration varies among species. Some display reddish or chestnut hues, such as the pine vole and Southern Red-Backed vole. The Southern Red-Backed vole, for example, has a distinct reddish back and head that contrasts sharply with its gray-yellow sides.
Age and seasonal changes can also influence a vole’s fur color. Some species appear darker in winter, with their fur lightening in warmer months. Northern subspecies of meadow voles can even have red tones in their fur.
Why Voles Have Their Colors
The primary reason for voles’ earthy tones is camouflage. Their coloration helps them blend seamlessly into surroundings like grasslands, forests, or underground burrows. This blending provides protection from a wide array of predators.
Voles are a frequent food source for many animals, including hawks, owls, foxes, coyotes, snakes, and some shrews. Their ability to disappear into the natural background reduces their visibility to predators, improving their chances of survival.
Distinguishing Voles by Color
While color offers initial clues, distinguishing voles from other small rodents like mice and shrews relies on combined features. Mice have longer tails and larger, more prominent ears and eyes. Voles, in contrast, have a stockier body, shorter legs, and relatively short, fur-covered tails. Their eyes are small, and their ears are often partially concealed by dense fur.
Shrews, another common small mammal, have a distinctly pointed snout, unlike a vole’s blunter snout. Shrews also have very small, sometimes barely visible, eyes and ears, and their fur is uniformly brown or gray. Considering these combined physical traits, along with coloration, provides more accurate identification than relying on color alone.