We have creeping voles!

[tiggymalvern]

We've known for some time that we had a rodent that wasn't our standard Pacific deer mice. We see them emerge from under the plant pots and fallen logs and eat the seed beneath the bird feeder. But it wasn't until this weekend that we finally got to view an adult in daylight that sat still long enough for us to be able to fully assess its size and features, with their short little half-length tails.

So now we know we have creeping voles. Not as glamorous or exciting as bobcats, but another mammal we can add to the list of our garden residents :-)

Comments

[bymyverytoes]

How incredibly awesome! What an adorable little creature :)

[tiggymalvern]

The name's adorable too - creeping voles!

[solo]

Oh, what a cutie!

[tiggymalvern]

They are very sweet. Though mostly we see them as shapes moving in the darkness, or just as they disappear into hiding!

[anirrationalseason]

I'M DYING. That is adorable!!

[tiggymalvern]

Apparently they're pretty common in the western half of the state - they're just one of those small nocturnal mammals that go out of their way not to be looked at!

[tameiki]

You have the cutest critters! I'll trade you for some prairie dogs, ground squirrels and/or gophers. :)

[tiggymalvern]

I like all of those to trade :-) But they'd be nasty alien invaders up here, so I'd better not!

[tameiki]

All three, while incredibly cute, are very destructive. I've lost count how many times they've chewed through our internet cable, landline cables and electricity lines that are all underground. Still, I wouldn't bother them except they burrow under our foundation, which is not a good thing. I've tried so many different things to get them to move on but they don't work. My next idea is to put blown up balloons into the prairie dog runs. Hopefully, when they try to move them they'll pop and scare them. After several times, they might decide to go somewhere more quiet. *fingers crossed*

[tiggymalvern]

We have the mountain beavers, and they make some really big holes in the hillside, but fortunately not too many of them. And so far our internet cable has only been chewed through once, though it's unclear if that was the mountain beavers or the squirrels...