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Phenacomys intermedius

Merriam, 1889

Western Heather Vole

G5Secure Found in 4 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.105193
Element CodeAMAFF10010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderRodentia
FamilyCricetidae
GenusPhenacomys
Other Common Names
Campagnol des bruyères (FR) Phénacomys des bruyères (FR) western heather vole (EN)
Concept Reference
Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.
Taxonomic Comments
MtDNA data (Bellinger et al. 2005) indicate species-level differences among red tree vole (Arborimus longicaudus or Phenacomys longicaudus), Sonoma tree vole (A. pomo or P. pomo), white-footed vole (A. albipes or P. albipes), and western heather vole (P. intermedius) but no clear difference between the two Oregon subspecies of red tree voles (longicaudus and silvicola). These data further indicate a close relationship between tree voles and A. albipes or P. albipes, validating inclusion of albipes in Arborimus. Bellinger et al. (2005) did not find that P. intermedius clustered with Microtus. Bellinger et al. (2005) noted that recognition of Arborimus as a distinct genus is subject to interpretation of data.

Phenacomys ungava has been treated as a distinct species and as a subspecies of P. intermedius.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-04
Change Date2000-06-15
Edition Date2000-06-15
Edition AuthorsReichel, J. D., and G. Hammerson
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Rank Reasons
Wide distribution in western North America; many protected occurrences; no known large-scale threats.
Range Extent Comments
Southwestern British Columbia and adjacent Alberta, Canada,Labrador west to southwestern Yukon Territory, south through south through the Olympic Mountains, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and Rocky Mountains to northern New Mexico, central Utah, and northern California, and disjunctly to east-central California and western Nevada (Wilson and Reeder 1993). Generally above 750 m in the western U.S. and to above 3000 m in the Rockies and California.
Occurrences Comments
At least hundreds of known locations.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Sea level to above treeline; open coniferous forest with heath, shrub understory; shrub areas on forest edge; mossy meadows in forests; alpine tundra with cover. Nests on ground under snow (winter) or in burrow (summer).

Ecology

Density estimates range from 0.5 to 10 per ha in different habitats in different areas. Irregular population fluctuations are typical. Solitary in summer except during breeding season. Family groups may occupy communal nests in winter.

Reproduction

Gestation lasts 19-24 days. Young are born mid-June to early September, though the season possibly is more restricted at high elevations. Litter size averages 3-4 for young-of-year, 4-6 for older females (which may produce 2 litters per year) (McAllister and Hoffman 1988).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - ConiferWoodland - ConiferShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousAlpine
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
New MexicoS3Yes
MontanaS5Yes
IdahoS5Yes
WashingtonS5Yes
UtahS2Yes
CaliforniaSNRYes
ColoradoS4Yes
WyomingS5Yes
OregonS4Yes
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
SaskatchewanS5Yes
QuebecSNRYes
AlbertaS5Yes
British ColumbiaS5Yes
Roadless Areas (4)
California (3)
AreaForestAcres
Hoover - Mt.olsenHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest624
Hoover - Virginia LksHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,050
Mt. OlsenInyo National Forest2,161
Washington (1)
AreaForestAcres
Mt. Baker WestMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest25,390
References (30)
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  2. Baker, R. J., L. C. Bradley, R. D. Bradley, J. W. Dragoo, M. D. Engstrom, R. S. Hoffman, C. A. Jones, F. Reid, D. W. Rice, and C. Jones. 2003a. Revised checklist of North American mammals north of Mexico, 2003. Museum of Texas Tech University Occasional Papers 229:1-23.
  3. Banfield, A. W. F. 1974. The mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada. 438 pp.
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  5. Bellinger, M. R., S. M. Haig, E. D. Forsman, and T. D. Mullins. 2005. Taxonomic relationships among <i>Phenacomys</i> voles as inferred by cytochrome <i>b</i>. Journal of Mammalogy 86:201-210.
  6. Bowman, J. C., M. Edwards, L. S. Sheppard, and G. J. Forbes. 1999. Record distance for a non-homing movement by a deer mouse, <i>Peromyscus maniculatus</i>. Canadian Field-Naturalist 113:292-293.
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  10. Etnier, D. A. 1989. Small mammals of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, with a second Minnesota record for the heather vole, <i>Phenacomys intermedius</i>. Can. Field-Nat. 103:353-357.
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  16. Jike, L., G. O. Batzli, L. L. Geta. 1988. Home ranges of prairie voles as determined by radiotracking and by powdertracking. Journal of Mammalogy 69:183-186.
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  18. Jones, J. K., Jr., R. S. Hoffman, D. W. Rice, C. Jones, R. J. Baker, and M. D. Engstrom. 1992a. Revised checklist of North American mammals north of Mexico, 1991. Occasional Papers, The Museum, Texas Tech University, 146:1-23.
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  23. Naylor, B. J., J. F. Bendell, and S. Spires. 1985. High density of heather voles, <i>Phenacomys intermedius</i>, in Jack Pine, <i>Pinus banksiana</i>, forests in Ontario. Canadian Field-Naturalist 99:494-497.
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