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 Vole Species 2 - The vole species 2 page gives you access to information about the snow vole, prairie vole, woodland vole, heather vole, sagebrush vole, tundra vole and pine vole.
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This medium sized vole is found on well managed sagebrush-wheat grass rangeland and in brushy canyon & hill country. When sagebrush voles are inactive they occupy an underground burrow which can be lined with sagebrush bark.
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Sagebrush Vole
This species of vole is strongly tied with sagebrush and is found on well-managed sagebrush-wheat grass rangeland. It is also found in brushy canyon and hill country where sage, rabbit-brush, and wheat-grasses are common. Sagebrush voles are strict herbivores feeding on a variety of green vegetation, mostly grasses. Leaves and other softer tissues are consumed, but seeds (except for those of wheat-grass) are not typically eaten.
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A sagebrush vole foraging
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A medium-sized vole under an ounce in weight, it measures between 4 1/4 and 5 5/8 inches, including its furry, dusky- and white-colored tail. Somewhat similar in appearance to lemmings, they have chunky bodies with short legs and have thick, pale gray fur, darker above and whitish/silvery below. Some individuals may have touches of buff color on their ears or noses The feet are white to light gray, thickly covered with fur, with the hind feet being equivalent in length to the short tail.
The sagebrush vole has a single pair of incisors in each jaw. These teeth will grow continually throughout its life. It has a high rate of reproduction, and this is one key factor in attributing to the success of this species. They typically breed from March to early December. The gestation period is about 25 days, resulting in a litter of two to eleven. The young are on their own after about 21 days.
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The most relevant links we could find, placed here free
 Idaho Museum of Natural History
- This page contains lots of interesting sagebrush vole facts as well as a detailed picture. imnh.isu.edu
eNature
- This page profiles the habits and distinguishing features of the sagebrush vole. www.enature.com
This species is active throughout day and year-round, but main activity periods occur 2 to 3 hours before sunset and again 2 to 3 hours after full darkness. When inactive, they occupy an underground burrow which can be lined with sagebrush bark. In winter these burrows are usually under the snow.
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The Sagebrush vole is a medium sized vole
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This vole species is thought to dwell in colonies because its burrow entrances occur in clusters, generally of 8 to 30. Colonies vary greatly in size and density from year to year. This animal's main predators are owls, long-tailed weasels bobcats and coyotes.
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Site written by Richard Wedge