Editing Vole (section)

==Description==
Voles are small rodents that grow to {{convert|3|-|9|in|cm|0|order=flip|abbr=on}}, depending on the species. Females can have five to ten litters per year, though with an average lifespan of three months and requiring one month to adulthood, two litters is the norm.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-05-13 |title=Vole Lifespan and Life Cycle |url=https://insectcop.net/voles-lifespan-and-life-cycle/ |access-date=2022-03-25 |website=INSECT COP |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Gestation]] lasts for three weeks and the young voles reach [[sexual maturity]] in a month. As a result of this [[biological exponential growth]], vole populations can grow very large within a short time. One mating pair can produce 100 offspring every year.

Voles outwardly resemble several other small animals. [[mole (animal)|Mole]]s, [[gopher]]s, [[mouse|mice]], [[rat]]s and even [[shrew]]s have similar characteristics and [[ethology|behavioral]] tendencies.

Voles thrive on small plants yet, like [[Shrew|shrews]], they will eat dead animals and, like mice and rats, they can live on almost any nut or fruit. In addition, voles target plants more than most other small animals, making their presence evident. Voles readily [[girdling|girdle]] small trees and ground cover much like a [[porcupine]]. This girdling can easily kill young plants and is not healthy for trees and other shrubs.

Voles often eat succulent root systems and burrow under plants and eat away until the plant is dead. [[Bulb]]s are another favorite target for voles; their excellent burrowing and tunnelling skills give them access to sensitive areas without clear or early warning. The presence of large numbers of voles is often identifiable only after they have destroyed a number of plants. However, like other burrowing rodents, they also play beneficial roles, including dispersing nutrients throughout the upper soil layers.<ref>Dickman, Chris R. [https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=aXJyaS5vcmd8cm9kZW50LW1hbmFnZW1lbnR8Z3g6M2RhNDAzMTkyZmVlMWQ4OQ "Rodent–Ecosystem Relationships: a Review"] in Singleton G, Hinds L, Leirs H, Zhang Z. ed. 1999. [http://rodent-management.irri.org/resources/journal-articles/books-and-book-chapters/ecologicallybasedrodentmanagement "Ecologically-based management of rodent pests"]. ACIAR Monograph No. 59, 494p Retrieved on 2018-03-28</ref>