Ordinary vole: a description of the species, habitat and interesting facts

Probably everyone heard about the usual voles. This small rodent - the curse of vegetable gardens and industrial farmland. Possessing the ability to reproduce rapidly, an ordinary voles in a very short time can cause irreparable harm to the household plot.

Description and habitat

Common vole refers to the family of hamsters. This species of rodent does not differ in size or remarkable appearance. They are very similar to mice or rats, but they have a more obtuse shape of the muzzle and small rounded ears.

The body length of the voles is small - only 10-12 cm, the tail - up to 5 cm. The maximum rodent weight does not exceed 45 g.

Wool on the back, neck and upper part of the head has a gray-brown hue, the abdomen, chin and lower part of the tail are yellowish-gray. It is interesting that with age, the volost of the voles has a lightening characteristic, it is often possible to observe gray hair.

The habitat affects the forest, forest-steppe and steppe zones of the European part of the continent from the Atlantic coast to the Altai Mountains. Poles are found in the south of Scandinavia, in Western Siberia and the Middle Urals. The colonies of these rodents live in the Caucasus, the Balkans, in the Crimea and in the north of Kazakhstan. Perfectly feel themselves in the Mongolian steppes, inhabit Middle and Minor Asia.

Despite all the measures taken by man, ordinary voles remain one of the most common species of rodents.

Ordinary gray vole: the features of behavior and lifestyle

Field mice live in family communities, in which several adult females and 3-4 generations of their offspring coexist. Despite such a peace-loving appearance, male voles are very territorial. Thus, the possessions of one male are about 1-1.5 km in radius and affect several populations of females.

Poles are very emotional - they can show both friendliness and open aggression. Declension is mainly observed in males, in some cases mouse fights end with the death of one of the participants.

To maintain a constant body temperature, the voles adhere to a certain regime, which is of a cyclic nature. For an interval of 3 hours these babies have time to sleep 2-4 times, from 3 to 9 times to clean the fur coat, from 2 to 6 times to start repairing and expanding their moves. The amount of feed for the same time varies from 6 to 20.

Dwelling common vole

It is difficult to imagine a better architect than a common vole. The description of her home is not easy. The labyrinths of moves are so florid and thoughtful, as if they were created not by a small gluttonous rodent, but by a team of workers-metrostroytsev.

Each hole has a network of narrow corridors that lead to several chambers. The purpose of these distinctive rooms is different: some serve as storerooms for grain and other food supplies, while others serve as resting and breeding grounds.

The underground abode of the voles has several levels: on the upper (about 35 cm in depth) there are cameras with food, and these mice are arranged below the floor at a depth of about half a meter.

In winter, an ordinary vole rarely leaves its dwelling. Constantly staying under the ground and snow, this crafty animal took care of the ventilation of its catacombs. For this purpose, the voles are made narrow (up to 1.5 cm) vertical shafts, which can be seen above their colony.

Food

Vole diet can be called quite diverse. These small rodents eat nuts, berries, young shoots and roots of about 80 plant species. On occasion, small insects and snails will not give up.

Preference is given to cereals and legumes, and in any form: in the course are young shoots, and mature grains. In winter, these well-known agricultural pests often live in the cellars of private houses and in granaries, and also like to bite the trunks of fruit trees, feeding on their young bark.

The damage that an ordinary vole annually inflicts on truck farmers is comparable to a locust attack. To scare away these small rodents, ultrasonic devices are used, as well as plants, the smell of which they do not tolerate. These include mint, thuja, garlic. Many also fill the detected burrows with water, but this will not save the garden from the mouse misfortune once and for all.

It is good to do on the site 2-3 poles, which will attract birds of prey, because they will be an excellent observation point for them. For example, an owl per year can destroy up to 1200 small rodents. What can we say about predatory animals: ferret per day is capable of catching 10-12 pieces.

Reproduction

To say that an ordinary vole is very prolific is nothing to say. The rate of reproduction under favorable conditions is simply amazing.

The mating season begins with the arrival of spring (March-April) and ends in autumn (in November). For a year, one female gives birth 3-4 times. Although some colonies that have chosen a haystack or a grain barn can be fertile all year round.

Pregnancy of the female lasts about 20 days, then the light appears on average 5-6 mice, absolutely helpless and bald. However, the vole progeny develops with incredible rapidity. Already at the age of 2 months the cubs become not only absolutely independent, but also sexually mature.

Life expectancy of the mouse-voles is very small - a rare individual lives to the age of one year.

Interesting Facts

There are a lot of interesting information about these rodents:

• Ordinary voles well floats.
• If the field mouse lives in swampy areas, instead of underground burrows, it builds round nests of straw or moss on bush branches.
• A pantry of this type of hamster can contain up to 3 kg of various stocks.
• Female voles can get pregnant on the 13th day of her life.
• A zverek can eat as much food per day as it weighs itself.
• Vole teeth grow throughout life.

This tiny creature is not only a great digger and a hated rodent: an ordinary voles is an important link in the food chain of a number of predators, many of which are on the verge of extinction. So, in addition to harm, it somehow brings benefits. In nature, everything is interconnected.