Species › Mammals › Montane Vole

Montane Vole

Microtus montanus

CommonMammal
Illustration of Montane Vole (Microtus montanus)

The Montane Vole is a compact, gray-brown vole of high-elevation mountain meadows and sagebrush habitats across western North America. It is one of the dominant small herbivores in mountain meadow ecosystems and shows pronounced population cycles tied to food availability and predator pressure. Meadow areas may be honeycombed with its surface runway systems.

Habitat
Mountain meadows, sagebrush, and alpine grasslands
Diet
Grasses, sedges, roots, and bark
How common
Common

Best time to see a Montane Vole

The best time to see a Montane Vole is April–July, when about 62% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 65 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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