Woodland vole

Woodland voles spend most of their lives in shallow tunnels just under the soil or leaf litter, and often use the tunnels of moles. They feed on roots, tubers and bulbs, and gnaw bark at the base of shrubs and young trees.

They live in small family groups that share tunnels and nests, and breed more slowly than most voles, with small litters.

Woodland voles mix the upper layer of soil as they tunnel and are an important food for owls, snakes, foxes and other predators of the forest floor.

They are also the animal usually responsible for damage blamed on moles: it is the vole, using the mole's tunnels, that eats roots and bulbs.

Breeding — much of the year, with peaks in spring and autumn
Gestation — about 24 days
Litter — usually one to four young
Weaning — at about two to three weeks old
Family — young often stay with their parents' group
Lifespan — usually less than a year

• If bulbs or roots are being eaten, the culprit is usually a vole, not a mole.
• Wire mesh around bulbs and gravel around plant roots protect them without killing anything.
• Poisons for voles harm owls, hawks, snakes and pets that eat poisoned animals.

• Moles eat bulbs and roots. Moles eat worms; voles eat the roots, often from the moles' tunnels.
• Voles are mice. They are a separate group with short tails and small ears.

• Southern red-backed vole
• Eastern mole
• White-footed mouse