A small Arctic vole that's the dominant rodent of wet tundra. Major food for Arctic predators (gyrfalcons, jaegers, foxes, owls).

Also called: Tundra Vole, Root Vole

Native status: Native to Arctic North America

§ Quick facts

SizeBody 10–13 cm; tail 3–4 cm
Weight25–45 g
LifespanWild 1 year
OrderRodentia
FamilyCricetidae

§ Encyclopedia

The tundra vole or root vole is a medium-sized vole found in Northern and Central Europe, Asia, and northwestern North America, including Alaska and northwestern Canada. In the western part of the Netherlands, the tundra vole is a relict from the ice age and has developed into the subspecies A. o. arenicola.

Source: Wikipedia — Tundra vole Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Stocky brown vole; short tail; small ears.

Similar species. Other Microtus species.

Voice. Squeaks.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Sedges, grasses, mosses.

Behavior. Arctic and subarctic vole.

§ Range

Alaska and Yukon

§ Habitat

Wet tundra, sedge meadows, beaver-pond edges

§ Threats

Climate-driven tundra changes, oil and gas development, mining.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the tundra vole is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Support Arctic wilderness. Oppose Arctic drilling. Don't use rodenticides.

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§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • American Society of Mammalogists
  • IUCN Red List 2016