Blue Ridge Wildlife Center Patient of the Week: Eastern Meadow Vole

Is it a vole? A mole? A shrew?

This Eastern Meadow Vole was admitted after a dog attack, which left her with a small laceration near the left ear.

Photos / Blue Ridge Wildlife Center

Though very quiet on intake, which was shortly after the attack, this patient is now alert, eating, and moving around her enclosure well just 24 hours after admission. She is on antibiotics and pain medications, and we are hopeful for a full recovery!

Many people have trouble identifying moles, voles, and shrews, but these are very different species! Voles are most similar in appearance to mice, but have shorter tails and snouts. Like mice, they eat a lot of grains and seeds. Moles and shrews eat insects and invertebrates. Moles have comically large forepaws for digging and barely-visible eyes and ears. Shrews have a long, pointed nose and small eyes and feet. Scroll down to learn more about each of these animals and how to identify them.

Whatever the species, if a wild animal has been handled by a cat or dog, that animal should be evaluated by a rehabilitator or wildlife veterinarian – even if it looks fine to you.

Please keep all dogs and cats leashed and supervised when outdoors to help prevent many of these wildlife casualties. If your pet gets a hold of wildlife, please give us (or your closest permitted rehabber) a call!

Mole

MOLES

• Eats insects and other invertebrates
• Aerates soil and creates good growth media for plants
• Food source for other wildlife
• Large forepaws for digging, long nose, eyes and ears are barely visible

Vole

VOLES

• Eats plants and grains
• Most similar in appearance to mice, but have shorter and rounder snouts and short tails
• Important food source for many wild animals

Shrew

SHREWS

• Eats insects and other invertebrates
• Pointed nose with small eyes and small feet
• Though technically venomous, shrew saliva will not kill a human but can cause pain and swelling

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