Species: Phenacomys intermedius
Western Heather Vole
Species
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Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Craniata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Rodentia
Family
Cricetidae
Genus
Phenacomys
NatureServe
Classification
Other Global Common Names
campagnol des bruyères - phénacomys des bruyères
Informal Taxonomy
Animals, Vertebrates - Mammals - Rodents
Formal Taxonomy
Animalia - Craniata - Mammalia - Rodentia - Cricetidae - Phenacomys - as a distinct species.
Ecology and Life History
Short General Description
A small, relatively short-tailed vole.
Migration
true - false - false
Non-migrant
true
Locally Migrant
false
Food Comments
In winter, feeds on bark and buds of shrubs and heaths. In summer, feeds primarily on green vegetation, berries, and seeds. Stores food winter and summer.
Reproduction Comments
Gestation lasts 19-24 days. Young are born mid-June to early September, though the season possibly is more restricted at high elevations. Litter size averages 3-4 for young-of-year, 4-6 for older females (which may produce 2 litters per year) (McAllister and Hoffman 1988).
Ecology Comments
Density estimates range from 0.5 to 10 per ha in different habitats in different areas. Irregular population fluctuations are typical. Solitary in summer except during breeding season. Family groups may occupy communal nests in winter.
Length
15
Weight
41
Conservation Status
NatureServe Global Status Rank
G5
Global Status Last Reviewed
2000-06-15
Global Status Last Changed
2000-06-15
Other Status
LC - Least concern
Distribution
Conservation Status Map
<img src="http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/GetMapGif?CA.AB=S4&CA.BC=S5&CA.LB=S5&CA.SK=S5&US.CA=SNR&US.CO=S4&US.ID=S4&US.MT=S4&US.NM=S3&US.OR=S4&US.UT=S2&US.WA=S5&US.WY=S5" alt="Conservation Status Map" style="width: 475px; height: auto;" />
Global Range
H - >2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles) - H - Southwestern British Columbia and adjacent Alberta, Canada,Labrador west to southwestern Yukon Territory, south through south through the Olympic Mountains, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and Rocky Mountains to northern New Mexico, central Utah, and northern California, and disjunctly to east-central California and western Nevada (Wilson and Reeder 1993). Generally above 750 m in the western U.S. and to above 3000 m in the Rockies and California.
Global Range Code
H
Global Range Description
>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)