Southern Red-backed Vole
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[Photo] Clethrionomys gapperi. Southern Red-backed Vole from US NPS. Source: U.S. National Park Service, Isle Royale National Park

The Southern Red-backed Vole, Myodes gapperi, is a small slender vole found in Canada and the northern United States.

They have short slender bodies with a reddish band along the back and a short tail. The sides of the body and head are grey and the underparts are paler. There is a grey colour morph in the northeast part of their range. They are 14 cm long with a 4 cm tail and weigh about 30 g.

These animals are found in coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests, often near wetlands. They use runways through the surface growth in warm weather and tunnel through the snow in winter. They feed on green plants, underground fungi and berries. They store roots, bulbs and nuts for later use. Predators include hawks, owls and mustelids.

Female voles have two to four litters of two to eight young in a year.

They are active year-round, mostly at night. They use underground burrows created by other small animals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Red-backed_Vole

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