Bank Vole
Myodes glareolus
Tap image to enlarge · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
The Bank Vole is a small, chestnut-brown vole of woodland and scrub habitats. Unlike the Field Vole (which lives in grassland), the Bank Vole is associated with cover — hedgerows, wood piles, scrub edges. It's more agile than the Field Vole and may climb to eat berries and seeds. At Formby, Bank Voles live throughout the scrub and pinewood edges. Their runways — small tunnels through the vegetation — are a common sign. Owls, Stoats, Weasels and Foxes all eat them.
At a Glance
| Order | Rodentia |
| Family | Cricetidae |
| Habitat | Dune scrub · Woodland edge · Hedgerow · Dense grassland |
| Diet | Seeds, berries, fungi, vegetation, some invertebrates |
| UK population | Around 23 million — very common in woodland and scrub |
| Sefton Coast | Common in scrub and woodland habitats throughout the Sefton Coast |
| Conservation | UK Green List |
Where to See It
Dune scrub, pinewood edges and hedgerows at Formby and Ainsdale.
Identification
Small vole. Bright chestnut-brown above, pale grey-white below. Rounded blunt snout. Small ears visible above fur. Longer tail than Field Vole but shorter than mice. Not in open grassland.
Viewing & Photography Tips
Look for runways in dense scrub vegetation and piles of chewed hazel nutshells (gnawed circular holes) near the pinewoods. A patient sit by a log pile will sometimes reveal one feeding.
Conservation Status
UK Green List
This species has a favourable conservation status in the UK and remains an important part of Sefton Coast biodiversity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I tell Bank Vole from Field Vole?
Colour and habitat are the main differences. Bank Vole is bright chestnut-brown with pale grey sides and grey-white underside; Field Vole is dull greyish-brown all over. Bank Vole has a slightly longer tail relative to body length. Bank Vole is found in scrub and woodland; Field Vole is found in open rough grassland. Gnawed hazel nuts with a circular hole indicate Bank Vole (the hole on a Field Vole-gnawed nut would be split open instead).
Related Species
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.