Habits
Meadow voles are usually found in wet meadows, swamps, and fields. Their ball-shaped nests, which are made of grass, can be found in burrows, under rocks, or under dense vegetation in the summer and just beneath the snow—which provides insulation—in the winter. Their diet generally consists of leaf stems, the fruits of most plants, seeds, nuts, and at times even insects. Meadow voles live in colonies and are active all year round both in the day and at night. They favor the night in the summer but prefer to go about their business when the sun is out in the winter.
These rodents pose the greatest threat near homes in the winter time. They gnaw away at the bark of trees and ornamental shrubs, resulting in major damage—they can easily kill trees 15 cm in diameter. They can also feed on bulbs, grass, and plant roots while moving under the snow.