Conservation Status: Locally common
Hertfordshire: Patchy distribution
Protection: No legal protection
General Information:Field voles differ from Bank voles by their yellowish or grey-brown fur and shorter tail. They are commonly found in areas of rough ungrazed grassland but can also be found in marginal habitats such as woodlands and hedgerows. They use well-formed runways at ground level amongst dense grass. Recent use of runs is often indicated by the presence of droppings and small mounds of short nibbled grass leaves and stems.
Threats: Field vole populations have declined due to loss of rough grassland, removal of linear features and the tidying up of the countryside. The field vole is a major food item for a number of predators, notably the Barn owl which has declined so drastically in recent years. The reduction in vole numbers is believed to have contributed to the decline in the number of barn owls.
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