Common vole

Scientific name: Microtus arvalis

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

A small rodent with a compact, cylindrical body, short tail (shorter than head-body length), and blunt snout. Coat is greyish-brown to dark brown dorsally with paler underparts; no distinctive sexual dimorphism in appearance.

Size and weight

Adults weigh 20–45 g; body length 9–12 cm; tail 2.5–4 cm. Sexes similar in size.

Habitat

Common voles inhabit grasslands, meadows, agricultural fields, and steppe regions from lowlands to moderate mountain elevations. They prefer areas with dense ground vegetation and soft soil suitable for burrowing.

Distribution

Range extends across much of Europe from Britain to Russia and from Scandinavia to the Alps and Mediterranean fringe. Across this range, they favour open grassland and cultivated habitats.

Diet

Herbivorous, feeding primarily on grass, clover, and other herbaceous plants; will consume grain, seeds, and roots; intake increases substantially in autumn and winter.

Behaviour

Active throughout the day and night in short bouts; primarily solitary or in loose colonies depending on density and season. Create and use networks of shallow burrows and surface runways; mark territories through scent-marking.

Hunting tips

Look for well-defined runway systems in grass and vegetation, and small dark droppings concentrated along paths and burrow entrances. Approach quietly into wind through tall grass, watching for movement near runway mouths, especially at dawn and dusk. Glass open meadows from distance to spot active animals before closing in, moving slowly to minimize vibration and shadow.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 1 country in Huntify.

Finland

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.