[helenol]

How short is the short-tailed voles tail?

I have one on the bank, and can't make my mind up whether it's the above or it's a Bank Vole, it runs too fast to be able to see the tail!

Thanks.

[tomjenner]

Hi Helen
From what I can remember, the tail of a short-tailed vole is about the third of the length of its body and it is about half the length of the body in bank voles (someone with a book to hand may need to correct me on this). this feature can be useful when you have a captured animal, but is not the best thing to look for in the field. Short-tailed Voles have a grey-brown colour to them, whilst Bank Voles have a darker and warmer chestnut-brown colour to them. If they are seen relatively well, this can help. Habitat is also a very good guide. Field voles live in fields with long grass and make runways that you will find if you pull the grass back. Consequently, they are not seen very often. bank voles are more often seen in forested areas or bushy undergrowth. I hope this is some use.
Tom

[helenol]

Tom, thanks for that. The colour may suggest it is a short-tailed vole. But, it is seen on a grassy bank with undergrowth in woodland which may suggest a bank vole!

In an ideal world it would be helpful to see one of each side by side to compare. I'll try and get a pic soon.

Thanks for the info.

[helenol]

Finally managed to get a pic of what I think may be a vole! short tailed or bank?

[Michael Frankis]

By the rusty tones on the back, I'd say Bank Vole

Michael