Jake Miller
Bank voles are the smallest of the UK's voles, with reddish-brown fur and a cream-coloured underbelly. They are common and widespread across the UK, but are quite hard to spot due to their small size and speed. They are active during both the day and night and can be found in woodlands, grasslands, hedgerows, and gardens. While water voles and their habitats are protected in the UK, there is no explicit mention of the same legal protection for bank voles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population in the UK | 27,400,000 |
| Status in the UK | Least Concern (LC) |
| Habitat | Broadleaf woodland, scrubland, hedgerows, grasslands, gardens, parks, canals, rivers |
| Diet | Primarily herbivorous (leaves, seeds, nuts, berries, fruits, insects, fungi) |
| Size | Smallest vole in the UK |
| Appearance | Reddish-chestnut coat, dirty white underside, blunt nose, small eyes and ears, short hairy tail |
| Behaviour | Active during the day and night, very fast, skittish, territorial |
| Breeding | 3-4 litters of 3-7 young between March and October |
| Lifespan | Up to 2 years |
| Predators | Tawny owls, weasels, kestrels, foxes |
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What You'll Learn
Bank voles are common and widespread across the UK
Bank voles are indeed common and widespread across the UK. They are the smallest of the UK's voles, with a reddish-chestnut coat and a dirty white underside. They are active during both the day and night, feeding on fruit, nuts, seeds, berries, and occasionally insects and fungi. They are very fast and can be found in woodlands, grasslands, hedgerows, and gardens, often in dense vegetation or underground. They are an important food source for predators such as tawny owls, weasels, foxes, and kestrels.
Bank voles are distinct from other vole species, such as field voles, by their larger ears and longer tails. Their burrows are typically shallow and found in grassy areas, but they can also be above ground with thick cover. They are territorial creatures and breed in these shallow burrows, producing three to four litters of between three and seven young per year.
Bank voles are widespread throughout England and Wales, with a population of around 27.4 million in Great Britain alone. They are also present in the southwest of Ireland, where they were accidentally introduced in the 1950s. While they are common, they can be challenging to spot due to their skittish nature and speed. However, they may become more confident in urban areas, increasing the likelihood of sightings.
While bank voles are not specifically mentioned as protected under UK law, their habitats, particularly hedgerows and woodlands, are essential for their preservation. They rely on these habitats for food and protection from predators, and their presence contributes to the overall biodiversity of these ecosystems. Therefore, while bank voles themselves may not be legally protected, the conservation of their habitats is crucial for maintaining their populations.
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They are the smallest vole species in the UK
Bank voles are the smallest vole species in the UK. They have a reddish-chestnut coat with a dirty white underside. Their tail is under half the length of their body, and they have a blunt nose with small eyes and ears. They can be confused with field voles, which are greyer, or wood mice, which have a longer tail and bound rather than scurry.
Bank voles are active during both the day and night, and they forage over distances of up to 50 metres. Males sometimes travel further to find a mate. They make their nests in shallow burrows that they dig just beneath the ground, lining them with leaves, grasses, moss or feathers. They are very nimble climbers and often climb up bushes to nibble fruit and buds.
Bank voles have a head-body length of 8–12 cm, a tail length of less than half their body length, and a weight of 14–40 g. Their lifespan is up to 18 months, and they produce litters of 3–5 blind, hairless young between April and October. Over half of those born early in the season will not survive beyond nine weeks.
Bank voles favour woodland habitats but can also be found in grassland and hedgerows, as well as in gardens. They are an important food source for predators such as tawny owls, weasels, foxes, and kestrels. They are widely distributed throughout Britain and are also present in the southwest of Ireland, where they were accidentally introduced in the 1950s.
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They are active during the day and night
Bank voles are active during both the day and night, though they are considered nocturnal. They forage for food over distances of up to 50 metres, with males sometimes travelling further to find a mate. They are fast, agile, and skittish creatures, and they hide among vegetation or travel underground. They are also very alert to the cries of other animals, such as tits, warning of aerial predators.
Bank voles are active throughout the year and do not hibernate in winter, though they are less active when temperatures drop. They are widespread across a variety of habitats, favouring woodland, grassland, and hedgerows, but can also be found in gardens and along canals and rivers. They prefer areas with dense vegetation that protect them from predators and harsh weather.
To spot a bank vole, it is important to remain still and quiet. You may hear rustling in the undergrowth or their distinctive growling and squeaking noises. They are quite similar in appearance to field voles and mice, but can be distinguished by their reddish-chestnut coat, blunt nose, small eyes and ears, and a tail that is less than half the length of their body.
Bank voles are primarily herbivores, feeding on fruit, nuts, and small insects. They gather and store food in underground chambers, which they line with moss, dry grasses, and leaves. They make their nests in shallow burrows just beneath the ground and are very nimble climbers, often climbing up bushes to nibble fruit and buds.
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They are an important food source for predators
Bank voles are an important food source for predators. They are the smallest of the UK's voles, with reddish-chestnut fur, a short tail, and small, rounded ears. They are active during the day and night, feeding on fruit, nuts, and small insects. They favour woodland areas but can also be found in grasslands and hedgerows, as well as gardens.
As a food source, bank voles play a crucial role in the ecosystem by providing sustenance for various predators, including birds of prey such as owls and kestrels, foxes, weasels, and even domestic cats. Their high reproductive rate helps to sustain their population despite the constant pressure from predators.
The presence of bank voles in an ecosystem can also encourage the presence of other predators that feed on small rodents. For example, creating an environment that attracts owls can help maintain a balanced ecosystem without relying on chemical pest control.
In addition to being a food source, bank voles also serve as seed dispersers. They unintentionally spread seeds and spores in their environment as they forage and move through their habitats. This helps to promote biodiversity and maintain the health of the ecosystem.
While bank voles are an important food source for predators, they can also be considered pests in certain contexts, particularly in agricultural and garden settings. They are known to chew on plants and create tunnels throughout lawns and fields, which can be undesirable to humans. However, their presence in these areas can be managed without resorting to harmful methods, such as by using repellents, removing their hiding places, or encouraging natural predators.
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They are distinguished by their reddish-brown coat
Bank voles are the smallest of the UK's voles, with a reddish-brown coat and a dirty white underside. The coat colour can range from reddish-chestnut to russet-brown, and even chestnut-brown. The bank vole's tail is under half the length of its body, and it has a blunt nose with small eyes and ears. They are often confused with field voles, which are greyer, or wood mice, which have longer tails and bound rather than scurry.
The bank vole's dorsal surface is reddish-brown, with a greyish undercoat, and the flanks are grey with a reddish-brown sheen. The underparts are whitish-grey, sometimes tinged with dull yellow. The bank vole is a small rodent, resembling a mouse when young, but developing a stouter body and a slightly rounder head with smaller ears and eyes as it matures. Young animals are darker in colour with greyer underparts.
The bank vole is native to Great Britain but was accidentally introduced to Ireland in the 1950s and has since colonised much of the south and southwest of the country. It is widely distributed throughout Britain and is also present in southwestern Ireland and Skomer Island off the southwest coast of Wales. Bank voles favour woodland habitats, but can also be found in grasslands and hedgerows, as well as gardens.
Bank voles are active during both the day and night and do not hibernate in winter. They are known for their burrowing behaviour, creating long, shallow branching burrows with multiple exits, and they store food underground. They are important for seed dispersal and play a crucial role in woodland ecosystems.
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Frequently asked questions
No, bank voles are not protected in the UK. However, water voles and their habitats are protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is illegal to capture, harm or kill them.
Bank voles are the smallest voles in the UK. They have reddish-brown or chestnut-brown fur with a cream-coloured underbelly. They have small eyes, a rounded snout, large ears, and a short hairy tail that is under half the length of their body.
Bank voles are widespread throughout the UK and can be found in woodlands, grasslands, hedgerows, and gardens. They favour dense vegetation and shallow burrows with thick cover. They are active during both the day and night, foraging over distances of up to 50 meters.
