Montane Vole - Microtus montanus
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Global Rank:
G5
State Rank:
S5
Agency Status
USFWS:
none
USFS:
none
BLM:
none
CFWCS Tier:
3
General Description
The adult montane mole can measure from 5 1/2 to 7 1/2 inches long, from tip of nose to end of tail. Its back will be blackish brown or black, with a gray cast to the fur. Pale, buffy sides, a whitish belly and dusky-colored feet help it blend into dry grasslands. This rodent's ears are small enough to be hidden in its fur (Foresman 2001).
Diagnostic Characteristics
Measurement of the tail helps differentiate the montane mole from meadow and long-tailed voles. The tail is less than 50% of body length (Foresman 2001) or about twice the size of the hind foot (Zeveloff and Collett 1988).
Distribution
Montana Range
Migration
Non-migratory.
Habitat
Usually dry grassland or sagebrush-grasslands. Will use wet meadows and marshes at high elevations when M. PENNSYLVANICUS is absent (Hoffmann 1969, Pattie 1967).
Food Habits
In the Beartooths in close association with M. RICHARDSONI, used mostly forbs (Pattie 1967).
Ecology
Estimated 1.0 to 3.4/acre in the Beartooths, mean adjacent range length of 236 ft. (Pattie 1967). Population fluctuates. Can be an agric. pest (Banfield 1974).
Reproductive Characteristics
Beg. breeding in early June (Beartooths). Adults ave. 6.8 young/litter, subadults 5.0 young/litter. Some young females born in spring breed as subadults; some males sex. mature in August (Pattie 1967).
Citations & Sources
- Burt, W. H. and R. P. Grossenheider. 1964. A field guide to the mammals. 2nd edition. The Peterson Field Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, MA.
- Foresman, K.R. 2001. The wild mammals of Montana. Special Publication No. 12. American Society of Mammalogists
- Kritzman, Ellen B. 1977. Little mammals of the Pacific Northwest. Pacific Search Press, Seattle, WA.
- Zeveloff, S. I. 1988. Mammals of the Intermountain West. Univ. of Utah Press, Salt Lake City, Utah.