Description
One of the smaller voles found in Poland. It is medium-sized, with an elongated body and a medium-length, sparsely haired tail covered with ring-shaped scales. The body is up to 10 cm long, the tail up to 5 cm, and it weighs over 30 g. It has large eyes, a slightly pointed muzzle with whiskers and large, broad, rounded, thin ears. The nostrils are pinkish and hairless. Its fur is grey on the back with a reddish tinge, often very pronounced. The sides and belly are grey, and the tail is two-coloured. The incisors are chisel-shaped and grow continuously; they stay sharp because enamel covers only their front surface. The molars have low crowns with three rows of cusps. It builds a system of tunnels just below the surface of the ground or in dense ground cover. It is an excellent climber of tree trunks and branches.
It lives in almost all types of forest and in thickets between fields. It prefers damp habitats overgrown with shrubs. It stays close to mounds, under alders and near fallen tree trunks, and is less often found in open places.
Control
Take particular care with chemical control, especially when using poisoned grain. You can use smoke candles intended for all small rodents – remember to use one candle per occupied burrow entrance. Acoustic repellers and various traps can also be used, although their effectiveness varies.