Which descriptors are accurate when applied to voles?

• A. Are mouse like rodents.
• B. Spend most of their time in subterranean runs.
• C. Can kill trees and shrubs by girdling the bark at the base of the plant.
• D. All of the above.

Answer: (D)

Voles are small rodents that look somewhat like mice but are stockier with shorter tails and a more rounded body. They spend a lot of time in and just under the surface, using a network of shallow underground runs and tunnels—especially in grassy areas, gardens, and around the bases of plants. This subterranean lifestyle helps them move around and feed while staying hidden from predators. They can cause significant damage by gnawing the bark at the bases of trees and shrubs, which girdles the plants and can kill them by interrupting the flow of nutrients. Because voles exhibit all of these traits, all of the statements are accurate.