California
Microtus californicus  Will Elder, National Park Service | |
| Type of Animal: | Mammals |
|---|---|
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Muridae |
| Federal Status: | |
| State Status: | |
| Occurrence: | |
| Habitat: | Grassland,Meadow |
| Description: | California voles construct underground burrow systems that are only a few centimeters below the ground. The burrows are quite extensive with multiple chambers and nesting areas. The nests are lined with shredded grasses. California voles also construct runways on the surface which are used for foraging and running back to their burrow in the presence of danger. California voles are herbivorous, meaning that they feed only on plant material. Their diet consists of grasses, sedges, forbs, seeds, and roots. The seeds and roots are eaten in the summer months when green vegetation is not abundant. These animals collect the seeds by reaching up and clipping the head off of the grass. Since these voles are active year-round, they do not store food. Reproduction is entirely dependent on the abundance of green vegetation. In coastal communities where green vegetation is always available, California voles may breed throughout the entire year. However, most communities experience cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers. In these areas, the breeding season begins soon after the first rain and ends as the vegetation begins to dry out. Females may produce up to five litters each year, with one to eleven young in each litter. The young are weaned at two to three weeks of age. In the wild most voles live for only a few months with a few living up to a year. Common predators of California voles include foxes, coyotes, weasels, raptors, and snakes. |
| Effort: | |
| References: | Jameson et al. 1988. California Mammals. Wilson et al. (editors). 1999. The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals. Whitaker (editor). 1998. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals, Revised Edition. Zeiner et al. (editors). 1990. California’s Wildlife, Volume III, Mammals. |
| Other Sites: | |
| Field Office(s): | Bakersfield; Mother Lode; Palm Springs; Redding; Ukiah |