Western Meadow Vole (Microtus drummondii) lives in grassy meadows across North America. It feeds on grasses and seeds. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Western Meadow Vole
- The United States stretch of the Souris River earned the nickname Mouse River because field mice crowded its banks in great numbers. This name reflects the vole's historic abundance along the waterway, a pattern that mirrors its preference for moist habitats across its range. The vole's presence there is a classic example of how dense vegetation near water supports large populations of this species.
- In northern prairie wetlands meadow voles are usually the most abundant small mammals, often exceeding 40% of all individuals recorded. Their dominance shapes the food web, with predator numbers such as short-eared owls, northern harriers, rough-legged hawks, coyotes and red foxes rising in direct response to vole abundance. This tight link shows how the vole's population size can drive the life histories of its major predators.
- In the riparian sagebrush-buffalo grass zones of southeastern Montana, western meadow voles were the second-most abundant small mammal after deer mice, highlighting their strong association with moist, vegetated corridors. Their prevalence in these habitats has led to their classification as riparian-dependent vertebrates in the Snake River drainage of Wyoming. Such habitat ties underline the vole's reliance on water-rich environments for thriving populations.
- Genetic analysis has shown that the western meadow vole is not the same species as the eastern meadow vole, confirming its separate status. This conclusion follows studies that revealed distinct DNA patterns between the two taxa. The vole's range stretches from Ontario west to Alaska and south to Missouri, north-central Nebraska, the northern half of Wyoming and central Washington, continuing through Idaho into north-central Utah.
- The Chihuahuan vole, a Pleistocene-relict subspecies of the western meadow vole, has not been recorded since 1988, following severe habitat degradation from recreational use and overgrazing.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeNorth America
HabitatGrassy meadows
DietGrasses and seeds
About the Western Meadow Vole
In the sun-dappled undergrowth of North America's grasslands, the Western Meadow Vole weaves a secret life, its tiny paws barely disturbing the soil as it navigates a labyrinthine world of hidden tunnels and narrow runways. With an insatiable appetite for the lush vegetation that surrounds it, this diminutive creature is a voracious forager, its sharp teeth and agile body allowing it to exploit a vast array of plant life that others might overlook. As it moves through its domain, the Western Meadow Vole embodies a quiet industry, its unassuming nature belied by a remarkable adaptability that has enabled it to thrive in a wide range of habitats.
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