Bank vole (Myodes glareolus) — small woodland rodent

Physical characteristics

Bank voles are compact and stocky, with reddish-brown fur often showing grey tones. Typical body length is about 100 mm and the tail approximately 50 mm; adult mass usually ranges from 20 to 35 grams. They have a blunt nose, small eyes and small rounded ears compared with many other rodents.

• Fur: reddish-brown with greyish underparts
• Tail: roughly half the body length
• Build: small, stout silhouette with short limbs

For general comparisons with related species see vole resources.

Behavior and diet

Bank voles are mainly active at dawn, dusk and at night but are sometimes seen by day. Their diet is opportunistic and includes seeds, berries, leaves, fungi and a variety of invertebrates. They build nest chambers from grass and moss, construct shallow runways through vegetation and commonly cache food for lean periods.

For further reading on feeding habits consult dietary studies.

Reproduction and life cycle

Breeding generally takes place from spring into autumn with multiple litters in favourable years. Young are born altricial and develop quickly; many individuals live only one to two years in the wild. A high reproductive rate offsets heavy predation and seasonal mortality.

Summaries of regional life histories are available at species summaries.

Ecological role and human interactions

Bank voles are important prey for owls, foxes, mustelids and other predators. By eating and transporting seeds and fungal fruiting bodies they influence plant and fungal communities. They can also serve as reservoirs for certain pathogens (for example some hantaviruses), so direct contact with wild individuals should be avoided. Overall conservation status is considered secure across most of their range.

See conservation and health notes for more information.

Distinguishing features

The bank vole is often confused with the field vole and other small voles. Useful distinctions include its more reddish coat, relatively longer tail and a rounder, blunter face. Its scientific placement has shifted in older literature, reflecting taxonomic revisions, so variant names may appear in older field guides.