arrow_back Species Library
Long-tailed Vole
Mammals Active day and night

Long-tailed Vole

Microtus longicaudus

iNaturalist Wikipedia

With a tail nearly as long as its body, the long-tailed vole is the mountain-climbing acrobat of the vole world. This hardy rodent thrives in the rugged terrain of western North America, from alpine meadows to misty forest floors.

0 Sightings
0 Habitats

Quick Identification

straighten

Size

Length: 17.5–22 cm (6.9–8.7 in); Tail: 6–10 cm (2.4–3.9 in); Weight: 35–65 g (1.2–2.3 oz)

palette

Colors

Grizzled grayish-brown upper fur with pale gray to creamy white underparts; bicolored tail (dark on top, light below).

visibility

Key Features

  • Tail length is 30-50% of the total body length
  • Small, rounded ears mostly hidden in fur
  • Grizzled gray-brown coat with lighter underbelly
  • Noticeably longer tail than other Microtus species
add_a_photo
Is this a Long-tailed Vole?

Drop a photo or video, or paste from clipboard

When You’ll See Them

schedule
Activity pattern Active day and night
brightness_5
Peak hours 6-9 PM, 4-7 AM
calendar_month
Season Year-round
restaurant
Diet Generalist herbivore consuming green vegetation, grasses, sedges, inner bark, fungi, and seeds. They may also eat berries and occasionally insects in the summer.
park
Habitat High-altitude meadows, riparian zones, coniferous forests, and shrubby areas near water.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Long-tailed Vole Live?

Native to the vast mountainous regions of western North America, the long-tailed vole thrives from eastern Alaska through western Canada and down into the western United States. Their territory stretches as far south as the mountains of Arizona and New Mexico, often favoring higher elevations in the southern parts of their range. They are particularly prevalent in the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada, where they inhabit moist alpine meadows and forest edges.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

2 Countries
4.5M km² Range
Least Concern Conservation
US United States CA Canada
eco
iNaturalist / Verified observation data
View on iNaturalist open_in_new

Explore more Mammals arrow_forward

Behavior

The long-tailed vole is a nimble and active rodent that, unlike many of its relatives, is quite comfortable climbing low shrubs and navigating rocky terrain. They are known for being less social than other vole species, often living in more solitary arrangements or small family units. While they do create runways through tall grass or under leaf litter, these paths are often less defined than those of the meadow vole.

These voles are active throughout the year, tunneling beneath the snow in winter to stay warm and forage on bark and dormant plants. In the backyard setting, they are shy and rarely seen by humans during the day, as they are primarily nocturnal or crepuscular. They play a vital role in the ecosystem as a primary food source for owls, hawks, and small carnivores like weasels.

photo_camera EverydayEarth exclusive

Camera Tips

To capture the elusive long-tailed vole, placement is everything. Focus your camera on 'wilder' corners of your property, specifically where tall grass meets a tree line or near stone walls. Unlike common garden mice, these voles often travel along natural edges. Set your camera low—about 4 to 6 inches off the ground—and angle it slightly downward to capture the detail of their tail, which is the key to identifying them. Using a camera with a macro or close-focus lens is ideal, as these animals are small and detail is necessary for a positive ID.

Baiting can be very effective for attracting these small mammals. A small amount of birdseed, oats, or a smear of peanut butter on a rock or log in front of the lens will encourage them to pause long enough for a clear shot. If you are tracking them in winter, look for 'vent holes' in the snow crust and place your camera nearby, as they frequently emerge from the sub-nivian (under-snow) layer at these points to explore the surface.

Since they are active both day and night but peak during twilight, ensure your camera's infrared (IR) flash is functioning well. A fast trigger speed (under 0.5 seconds) is crucial, as they move in quick, darting bursts. If your camera supports video, short 10-second clips are often better than photos, as the movement of the tail and their climbing behavior are easier to distinguish in motion.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Long-tailed Vole.

Montane Vole

Possesses a shorter tail and different tooth structure; it is typically found in drier, grassier habitats.

Browse all Mammals arrow_forward

Frequently Asked Questions

While they can be active any time, long-tailed voles are most frequently caught on camera during the dawn and dusk hours (crepuscular) and throughout the night. They are less active during the peak heat of the day.
To attract long-tailed voles, maintain some 'wild' areas with tall grass and fallen logs. Providing a small, safe feeding station with seeds or grains near cover will often draw them out for a camera capture.
They are primary herbivores, eating a mix of grasses, sedges, bark, and seeds. In the summer, they love wild berries and the occasional fungus, while in winter they rely heavily on the inner bark of woody plants.
They are less common in manicured suburbs than meadow voles, but if your home is near a forest edge, canyon, or mountain meadow in the West, they are likely neighbors.
The easiest way is the tail! A long-tailed vole's tail is much longer—usually over 60mm and roughly 1/3 to 1/2 of its total length—compared to the much stubbier tail of a meadow vole.

Record Long-tailed Vole at your habitat

Connect a camera to start building your own species record — AI identifies every visitor automatically.

Join free Identify a photo