Meadow Voles
by Doug Reeves, assistant chief, DNR Wildlife Division As I was walking along a small rivulet adjacent to a field recently, something darted across the little stream so quickly that – even though I glanced as fast as I could – all I saw was a small wake the animal left. Then it darted quickly down the edge of the stream and off into the grass. At that point I was able to identify it as a meadow vole. Meadow voles, or meadow "mice" as I have often heard them called, are the base of the food chain in many grassland-dominated areas. Theirs is a very important function in that regard, and to say that they multiply like rabbits is putting it mildly, when conditions are right. Several species of hawks and owls, shrikes, red and gray fox, coyote, bobcat, weasels, mink and several species of snakes all find meadow voles a menu favorite. So they have to produce like crazy for the population to persist! But they have many other traits and behaviors that are worthy of admiratio...