Bank Vole - Myodes glareolus

Head and body length: 8 to12 cm, weight: 15 to 40g. Bank Voles have small eyes and ears and a blunt nose. Adults have red-brown fur on their backs, and a creamy-white underparts.  The younger individuals have grey-brown fur. They have a relatively long tail to their body size.

The Field Vole (Short-tailed Field Vole) can usually be distinguished by its more sandy coloured coat plus a shorter and hairy tail.

Their typical habitat is woodland but they are also found in grassland and hedgerows.  They are found in gardens and parks where they nest under shrubs and hedgerow bottoms

All year round. Bank Voles forage day and night and feed on buds, leaves, fruit and some insects. They often climb among bushes while foraging for food.

They can live for 18 months. Bank Voles breed from March to October and an average of four young are born after a gestation period of 18-20 days. The young become independent after four weeks.

Widespread and common across mainland Britain

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland but under recorded