California Vole
(Microtus californicus)
The California Vole is a gray-brown, medium sized mouse that occurs sporadically on the Etiwanda Fan. This is the only Microtus species that occurs on the Etiwanda Fan. The California Vole is thought to occur in wetlands, meadows and other moist habitats but these small mammals have been captured frequently in semi-arid habitats including coastal sage scrub and alluvial fan sage scrub. The California Vole is found throughout all but the most arid regions of California and south into Baja California. There are 17 races of California Vole. The local race is M. c. sanctidiegi.
Status: M. c. scirpensis is State and Federally Endangered, M. c. mohavensis, M. c. sanpabloensis, M. c. stephensi, M. c. vallicola are California Species of Special Concern
Habitat: Chaparral, coastal sage scrub, alluvial fan sage scrub, meadows, and wetlands
Diet: Plant parts
Mean* adult body length: 117.6 mm
Mean* adult tail length: 48.3 mm
Mean* adult hind foot length: 19.9 mm
Mean* adult ear length: 15.0 mm
*mean measurement of individuals captured in the San Bernardino Valley by Museum researchers
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