A Field Vole has been Here!
Rush stems stripped by Field Vole leaving pith behind on Wilden Marsh
Mike Averill sent me this photo of field vole activity on Wilden Marsh.
The field vole is more active by day than the common vole. It excavates shallow burrows under leaf litter and snow. It also makes surface runs through tall vegetation, routes along which it can scurry back to safety if danger threatens. Off these are dedicated defecation sites and it often leaves little piles of chopped up grass stalks nearby.
What an interesting observation.
I hope it doesn’t end up in the ferocious mink’s stomach, Anne.
What do you mean by common vole? Surely Field Vole is the common vole. The only other UK species are Water and Bank Vole.
Isn’t Microtus arvalis the most common?