The field vole, or short-tailed vole, is one of the most common mammals in Europe and is widespread in mainland Britain. The fi eld vole is active by day and night and is very vocal, making loud chirping and
chattering noises.
The field vole is 9-13cm long and 18-60g in weight, with a tail about one-third of the body length. It is dark brown or greyish-brown above with a paler belly. The ears are rounded and the eyes are set high on either side
of the head, giving a very wide fi eld of vision.
The field vole can be found in a range of moist habitats, including woodland edges, river banks, wet grassland and parks. Although they are active during the day, they are much less likely to be seen than bank voles because they rarely leave the safety of cover. They make tunnels and runs in thick grass and just underneath the soil surface. It is sometimes possible to detect their presence by their movement through the tunnels and runs and also by piles of their olive green droppings and freshly chopped blades of grass.
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