[12] Plastic mesh cylinders were effective in preventing seedling damage by meadow voles and other rodents. "Response of small mammal communities to silvicultural treatments in eastern hardwood forests of West Virginia and Massachusetts". Meadow voles, commonly known as meadow mice, are stocky with small, but prominent, beady black eyes and almost concealed ears. ), have been reported in meadow vole diets. They were most abundant in clearcut strip interiors and least abundant in uncut strip interiors. Since voles and mice are both around five to eight inches long and have gray or brown fur, it may take a closer look to tell them apart. Also, just like mice, rats would much rather stay indoors where it’s warm and safe. The most stable population occurred on unburned big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)-dominated plots. Meadow voles are also absent from fescue (Festuca spp. It’s very much possible to find a rat outdoors, of course, but if you do it will be while he’s in transit from point A to point B, where voles prefer being outside and rarely even think of invading your home. [35], Nests are used as nurseries, resting areas, and as protection against weather. Reich[3] listed the following factors as having been suggested by different authors: food quality, predation, climatic events, density-related physiological stress, and the presence of genetically determined behavioral variants among dispersing individuals. [12] The American short-tailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda) is a major predator; meadow voles avoid areas frequented by short-tailed shrews. "The value of Rocky Mountain juniper (. ), northern shrike (Larius borealis), black-billed magpie (Pica pica), common raven (Corvus corax), American crow (C. brachyrhynchos), great blue heron (Ardea herodias), and American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus). Young born in late summer continue growing through the fall and maintain their weight through the winter. Its range extends farther south along the Atlantic coast. [3] Female meadow voles reach reproductive maturity earlier than males; some ovulate and become pregnant as early as three weeks old. [15] and postnestling juveniles had the highest mortality rate (61%), followed by young adults (58%) and older age groups (53%). Mice thrive anywhere with food and shelter, including homes and barns. Square habitat patches were not significantly different from rectangular patches in meadow vole density. It is a major consumer of grass and disperses grass nutrients in its feces. Often called “field mice”, voles are small outdoorsy rodents that really do resemble mice in a lot of ways, particularly in term of their physical appearance. "Small mammals of a relict wet prairie in Ohio". [18] Numbers of short-eared owls, northern harriers, rough-legged hawks (Buteo lagopus), coyotes (Canis latrans), and red foxes were related to large numbers of meadow voles in a field in Wisconsin. ), red clover (Trifolium pratense), annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), and thistles Cirsium spp.). Voles almost never go into houses if they can help it, they are outdoor animals. Litter size is not significantly correlated with latitude, elevation, or population density. [4] Meadow voles are listed as riparian-dependent vertebrates in the Snake River drainage of Wyoming. Pauls, Ronald W. (1986). The meadow vole is active year-round, usually at night. Differentiating between these three pests, as well as between voles and indoor rodents such as mice and rats is quite important. In: Black, Hugh C., ed. Voles are stockier than mice with shorter tails, larger eyes, and smaller, less prominent ears. [3], In winter, meadow voles consume green basal portions of grass plants, often hidden under snow. In Michigan, strip clearcuts in a conifer swamp resulted in an increase in the relative abundance of meadow voles. Certain characteristics help identify each animal for proper control. Moles don’t really intend to damage your garden or vegetation. Shrews’ droppings are as small and hard to notice as voles’ and they too can often be found above ground. There are 3 species in Missouri, all quite similar. You can easily view shrews as being in the middle between voles and moles. )-hemlock (Tsuga spp. Although the ultrasonic repellents can provide some relief from voles, they aren’t really an efficient way how to exterminate voles.