Meadow Vole

Category:

Actual Size: 3 1/2 to 5 inches. 

Characteristics: Their coat is dense and soft, blending brown and gray hues with a pale underside. Their small, fur-covered ears are barely visible, and their short tail is thinly covered in fine hair.

Habitat: Their underground burrows are typically located in grassy fields or regions with abundant vegetation.

Habits:

  • Build intricate tunnel systems that harm landscaping and turf.
  • Commonly referred to as “meadow mouse” or “field mouse.”
  • Communicate using high-pitched sounds.
  • Reproduce rapidly, with multiple litters of 4–8 young each year.

Meadow Voles in Florida

The meadow vole, often referred to as the “meadow mouse” or “field mouse,” is a common rodent found throughout North America. Unlike rats and mice, it has a shorter tail and a thick, cylindrical body. Meadow voles are poor climbers and seldom enter homes, preferring to inhabit underground tunnel systems that can damage lawns and landscaping. They breed rapidly and primarily feed on plants like grasses and seeds.

Meadow Vole Habitat

While meadow voles sometimes appear above ground, they mainly inhabit shallow, compact burrows. Their nests, constructed from grass, stems, and leaves, are often tucked beneath dense vegetation. Clearing this cover may reveal runways that lead to their nesting sites. Evidence of their activity includes freshly cut grass and greenish droppings, about 3/16 inch long, scattered near their burrows.

Meadow Vole Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

Although meadow voles seldom come into contact with humans and pose minimal health threats, they are capable of spreading diseases such as plague and tularemia. While they typically avoid entering homes, they are significant pests for homeowners, often damaging orchards, tree plantings, and crops during their foraging. Their burrowing weakens the stability of plants and trees, and they can also harm tree trunks, lawns, golf courses, and ground covers.

Signs of a meadow vole problem? Contact your nearest rodent extermination professionals for assistance.