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Home/Species/ Montane Vole

Microtus montanus

(Peale, 1848)

Montane Vole

G5Secure Found in 11 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104293
Element CodeAMAFF11020
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderRodentia
FamilyCricetidae
GenusMicrotus
Other Common Names
Campagnol montagnard (FR) montane 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/.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-04
Change Date1996-11-13
Range Extent Comments
Western North America, from south-central British Columbia and western and central Montana south through western U.S. to east-central California, southern Utah, and north-central New Mexico; also disjunctly in east-central Arizona [and adjacent New Mexico?], southern Nevada, and northeastern New Mexico (Musser and Carelton, in Wilson and Reeder 1993).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Alpine meadows in south; mountain valleys in north. Wet meadows, cropland, especially fields & pastures of grass and legumes along fence rows; grassy areas by streams, lakes. Occupies shallow burrows and surface runways.

Ecology

Peak popualtion density was 375-560/ha in Utah (Negus et al. 1986). Populations may fluctuate dramatically. Populations peaked at 3-4-year intervals in northwestern Wyoming (Pinter 1986). Predators include hawks, owls, foxes, badgers, coyotes, etc.

Reproduction

Breeds April-October (births April-August in Utah, Negus et al. 1986; May-August in northwestern Wyoming, Negus et al. 1992). Usually 2-3 litters/year (4 cohorts/year in Utah, 3/year in northwestern Wyoming; early cohorts breed in same season). Average litter size is about 6; litter size peaked at 3-4-year intervals in northwestern Wyoming (Pinter 1986). Females of early cohorts begin breeding at 4-5 weeks in favorable years. Drought greatly reduced/delayed growth and attainment of sexual maturity in northwestern Wyoming (Negus et al. 1992).
Terrestrial Habitats
Grassland/herbaceousAlpineCropland/hedgerow
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
MontanaS5Yes
NevadaS4Yes
UtahS5Yes
IdahoS4Yes
ArizonaS4Yes
WashingtonS5Yes
WyomingS5Yes
New MexicoS4Yes
CaliforniaSNRYes
ColoradoS5Yes
OregonS5Yes
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaS4Yes
Roadless Areas (11)
California (2)
AreaForestAcres
Hall Natural AreaInyo National Forest5,236
San JoaquinSierra National Forest22,474
Nevada (2)
AreaForestAcres
Alta T - East BHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest21,732
Spanish PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest31,520
Oregon (3)
AreaForestAcres
Dry CabinMalheur National Forest12,274
Imnaha FaceWallowa-Whitman National Forest29,575
Sheep DivideWallowa-Whitman National Forest16,201
Washington (1)
AreaForestAcres
Mill Creek Watershed (WA)Umatilla National Forest16,747
Wyoming (3)
AreaForestAcres
Devils CanyonBighorn National Forest37,416
Horse Creek MesaBighorn National Forest77,808
Little BighornBighorn National Forest133,949
References (36)
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