Voles are small rodents found across various habitats, including grassy areas, fields, and woodlands. These ground-dwelling mammals are often mistaken for other small critters due to their size and general appearance. Understanding their distinct physical traits is key to accurate identification.
General Physical Characteristics
Voles are compact and stocky rodents with a rounded body shape. They typically measure between 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters) in length, including their short tail. Their fur is dense and soft, sometimes appearing slightly coarse.
The coloration of vole fur commonly includes shades of brown, gray, and black. Some species may exhibit a reddish or chestnut hue, or even a grizzled gray-brown. Their underparts are often lighter, ranging from silvery to dark gray or yellowish.
Key Features for Identification
Their ears are small and rounded, often partially concealed or barely visible within their dense fur. This contrasts with the more prominent ears seen in many other small rodents.
Voles possess a short, hairy tail. This tail typically measures about 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 centimeters) in length and is covered in fur similar to their body, rather than being scaly or long and thin. Their eyes are small and appear beady, contributing to their less prominent facial features compared to mice. Additionally, voles have a blunt, rounded snout. These collective features give voles their distinct, chubby or stocky appearance.
Distinguishing Voles from Similar Rodents
Voles are frequently confused with other common small rodents like mice, shrews, and even moles or gophers. Accurate identification relies on observing their overall body proportions and specific features.
Mice have more slender bodies, larger ears prominent relative to their head, and long, thin tails often as long as or longer than their body. Voles, in contrast, are stockier with shorter, furrier tails and smaller, less noticeable ears.
Shrews have a distinctly pointed snout and tiny, visible eyes. Their feet are delicate, unlike the sturdier paws of voles.
Moles have greatly enlarged, paddle-shaped front feet adapted for digging, a pointed snout, and nearly invisible eyes and ears. Voles, while they burrow, do not have these specialized digging adaptations and possess visible, albeit small, ears and eyes. Gophers are larger than voles, measuring 6 to 10 inches in length, and have distinctive external cheek pouches. Voles are much smaller and lack these prominent cheek pouches.