Vole

[Left Turn]

On today's hike I met a little vole.

He was sunning himself by the side of the trail and did not seem too interested in moving.

He did open one eye eventually and crept away about three inches.

California Vole, aka California Meadow Mouse (Microtus californicus), I believe.

 

[Dux]

Nice pics.

Think it was sick? They never hold still around here n hit the afterburners if they see me or my dog.

 

[Trekon86]

My buddy poked a mouse once as it sat sunning itself on a stump by the path. When he poked it, it woke up real quick, and launched itself off the stump into the bushes.


Perhaps small rodents do this on warm days during the winter to help preserve their stores of fat?

Who wouldn't want to see some sunlight after sleeping through entire weeks in a semi-daze?

PMZ

 

[riverjoe]

See any house cats around . They will injure the little critters and keep them alive for hours sometimes to play with . I know kinda gruesome but I've seen it done by my cats before and other then that one little disturbing habit they seem like pretty good joes .

 

[Friartuck]

A couple years ago a bit of board got left in the grass. I went to pick it up and there was a little thing I thought was a vole but it didn't look like the pic you provided. It was about the size of a human male thumb with a pointier nose. It originally sat still but when I started getting closer it became pretty aggressive. I poked at it with a stick and it attacked the stick. I caught it in a small, clear box and when I'd drop worms, grubs or salamanders in with it he would assault, kill then quickly eat them encroaching animal. Basically, it didn't exhibit any similar behavior to what you describe.

My assumptions, this one was sick as hinted at by others, this vole was starving and therefore had no energy for the fight/flight response, this thing was still so cold that it just couldn't move. Kind of sad all the way around but that's the cycle of life; he'll probably be food for something else soon.

Just recalled that what I'm thinking of is the shrew, not the vole. Sorry.

 

[riverjoe]

A couple years ago a bit of board got left in the grass. I went to pick it up and there was a little thing I thought was a vole but it didn't look like the pic you provided. It was about the size of a human male thumb with a pointier nose. It originally sat still but when I started getting closer it became pretty aggressive. I poked at it with a stick and it attacked the stick. I caught it in a small, clear box and when I'd drop worms, grubs or salamanders in with it he would assault, kill then quickly eat them encroaching animal. Basically, it didn't exhibit any similar behavior to what you describe.

My assumptions, this one was sick as hinted at by others, this vole was starving and therefore had no energy for the fight/flight response, this thing was still so cold that it just couldn't move. Kind of sad all the way around but that's the cycle of life; he'll probably be food for something else soon.

Just recalled that what I'm thinking of is the shrew, not the vole. Sorry.

I saw one of those little Shrew standing up with his paws out in a Grizzly bear stance faceing off one of my cats one time .
I chased the cat away to honor his bravery . He's probabley the one that got in the barn and chewed up my gloves .

 

[Lead Dog]

I saw one of those little Shrew standing up with his paws out in a Grizzly bear stance faceing off one of my cats one time .
I chased the cat away to honor his bravery . He's probabley the one that got in the barn and chewed up my gloves .

That'll learn ya to be nice to rodents.