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| Gapper’s Red-Backed Voles differ in appearance from other mice by their plump bodies, small eyes and ears, short legs and tails, and blunt noses. They are rust-reddish or grayish above, and gray to white below. They prefer coniferous forests and are fond of Hemlock forests with moss-covered logs and rocks. Red-Backed Voles climb trees and are active all winter, usually hopping or running to get from one place to another. They also use tunnels and runways. Their diet consists of green plants, various kinds of ripe berries, and underground fungi. They store food for later use, as they do not hibernate. They use the burrows of other animals when available, and do not construct elaborate burrows. Red-Backed Voles breed in late winter to late fall, with several litters per year of 2 to 8 young. They usually do not live more than 10 to 12 months, few surviving two winters. The Southern Bog Lemming is very difficult to find in the Algonquin Highlands area, even though their preferred habitat of grassy marshes and nearby forests are plentiful in our area. |
(Family Muridae)
Gapper's Red-backed Vole (Clethrionomy gapperi)
Southern Bog Lemming (Synaptomys cooperi)
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