Northern Red-backed Vole (Clethrionomys rutilus) lives in arctic tundra across Northern Europe and Asia. It feeds on seeds and fruits. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Northern Red-backed Vole
- Litters average just under six young, with a recorded mean of 5.93 pups. The breeding season runs from May to August, during which females are polyestrous and can produce two or three litters. Each litter contains four to nine offspring, giving the observed average of 5.93. This reproductive output helps sustain populations across the short northern summer.
- Young voles cannot keep their body temperature stable until they are about 18 days old, leaving them vulnerable to cold early in life. At roughly 18 days they are weaned and leave the nest, beginning independent foraging. About 20% of females from the first litter manage to breed in the same summer, while the rest wait until the following May. This delayed maturity balances growth with the brief northern growing season.
- During winter the species often enters human dwellings, frequently invading houses. They remain active throughout the cold months, digging long tunnels beneath the snow to move between foraging sites. Their winter nests are typically placed on the ground among thick moss, which provides essential thermal cover. These behaviours bring them into close contact with people when temperatures drop.
- American martens depend on northern red-backed voles for most of their prey, with the rodents forming 74% of the martens' diet in the Alaskan summer and 68% during winter. This high proportion shows that voles are a staple food source throughout the year. Martens are listed among several predators of the vole, which also include Arctic and red foxes, stoats and snowy owls.
- Adult northern red-backed voles measure 14 cm in total length and carry a short, thick tail of 3.5 cm, while their body mass ranges from 30 to 40 g. Their compact build includes short ears that can be seen through the fur and a rust-coloured back with lighter sides and underparts. They possess a dental formula of 1/1, 0/0, 0/0, 3/3, typical of small rodents.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeNorthern Europe and Asia
HabitatArctic tundra
DietSeeds and fruits
About the Northern Red-backed Vole
In the dense, emerald undergrowth of the boreal forest, the Northern Red-backed Vole weaves a secret life, its tiny paws barely disturbing the rustling leaves as it darts between the shadows. With a twitch of its whiskers and a flick of its chestnut-hued back, this diminutive creature navigates the hidden world of tree roots and ferns, its very existence a testament to the enduring power of adaptation in the harsh, subarctic landscape. As it scurries through its domain, the vole's large, round eyes shine like dark jewels, drinking in the subtle nuances of its surroundings with a quiet, unassuming intensity.
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