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Montana Animal Field Guide

Montana Field Guides

Long-tailed Vole - Microtus longicaudus

  • Long-tailed Vole
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Global Rank: G5
State Rank: S4

Agency Status
USFWS: none
USFS: none
BLM: none
CFWCS Tier: 3
 

General Description
The long-tailed vole, as its name implies, is distinguished by the length of its bicolored tail. The adult vole in Montana averages a little over 6 inches in length and an ounce in weight (Foresman 2001). Its tail will be nearly 3 inches long. Upper body color may be anywhere from a dark brown to grayish brown, with streaks of black-tipped hairs. Sides appear more gray and the belly can be gray with a dull buffy wash or whitish. The feet appear dusky or soiled white. Foresman (2001) notes the large, hairy ears and Zeveloff and Collett (1988) the long appearanc of the eyes and ears in this vole.

General Distribution
Montana Range



Western Hemisphere Range

 


Summary of Observations Submitted for Montana
Number of Observations: 285

(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version) Map Help and Descriptions
Relative Density

Recency

 

(Records associated with a range of dates are excluded from time charts)



Migration
Non-migratory.

Habitat
Riparian valley bottoms to alpine tundra, sagebrush- grassland semi-desert to subalpine coniferous forests (Hoffmann and Pattie 1968).

Ecology
In forested areas may not make runways (Hoffmann and Pattie 1968). Seems to be subordinate to other species of voles (Jones et al. 1983).

Reproductive Characteristics
Little known about breeding season. Probably May-August. Up to 4 litters produced per season. Young of the year can reproduce (Jones et al. 1983).

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
  • Zeveloff, S. I. 1988. Mammals of the Intermountain West. Univ. of Utah Press, Salt Lake City, Utah.
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Citation for data on this website:
Long-tailed Vole — Microtus longicaudus.  Montana Field Guide.  Retrieved on February 9, 2010, from http://FieldGuide.mt.gov/detail_AMAFF11060.aspx
 
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