Seasonal Variations in Movements and Habitat Use by Pine and Meadow Voles

Authors

Ralph E. Pagano, State University of New York at Binghamton
Dale M. Madison, State University of New York at Binghamton

Date of this Version

March 1981

Comments

Published in Proceedings of the Fifth Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposium, Gettysburg, PA, March 4–5, 1981, Ross E. Byers, editor. Copyright © 1981 Pagano and Madison.

Abstract

Free-ranging pine voles (Microtus pinetorum) and meadow voles (M. pennsylvanicus) were radio-tracked in a maintained apple orchard environment in August and December 1980. Meadow voles maintained larger home ranges than pine voles in the summer, but had similar-sized ranges in December. The home ranges for both species decreased with the onset of winter. Pine and meadow voles showed a strong tendency to remain within rows and to restrict most of their movement to areas beneath the canopy. Despite some overlap in space use between the species, the movements of both vole species suggested mutual avoidance. Differences in habitat utilization between pine and meadow voles was also suggested.