Bank vole Clethrionomys glareolus

Identification features

• Small sized mammal
• Blunt muzzle
• Small inconspicuous ears
• Fur is a rich dark brown all over the body
• Tail is approximately 50% of the length of the body and head length. It is dark on top and pale below.
• Body fur colour is reddish brown on the back and a creamy-grey underneath

Bank voles are herbivores and are associated with woodland, scrub habitats. They can be recorded during small mammal trapping surveys.

Other identification clues

Feeding remains

Bank voles have a distinctive way of eating hazelnuts. They leave a clean hole without gnaw marks on the outer edge of the hole. The circular hole has a chiselled edge.

Distribution in Derbyshire information