Baby Vole Care?

[Lulu2010]

I have been anxiously awaiting my first baby of the season. Finally, today I get a call to pick up a mysterious baby animal that was thought to possibly be a baby possum. Then, it turned out it is a vole (never heard of them). We can't quite decide what kind, but we think it is a water vole due to the size of the baby and it's eyes are not even open yet. It has a very blunt snout and round head. I need help with care if anyone knows how long it should be on formula or has any advice. I can't post a picture yet but will surely try soon. If anybody knows anything about these animals please let me know. Also, curious to know if they are releasable as singles. Thanks.

[NaturesGift]

I have raised voles (or as we call em meadow mice)

I feed them the FV for under 4 week old babies and have raised singles and released them

Like mice they are hard!

[NaturesGift]

Jimminy crickets. Not my kind of vole!!!'

Have no experience ignore me!!! Will research

[NaturesGift]

Says they are related to muskrats online....

Muskrats are weaned at 4 weeks and eat rodent block and veggies

1 week skin is dark they get formula 6-7 times a day
2 weeks eyes open formula 5 times a day and you or them swim supervised several times a day
3 begin to eat solids and stay under water for up to 15 min

4 weeks weaned

5 weeks should be eating natural diet and swimming independently

6 weeks release at night

Wild edibles include
Algae
Field greens
Corn
Sod
Clams mollusks frogs and fish

That's what the wild mammal book says about muskrats

[stosh2010]

Here's some more info & pics from the internet--Good Luck !

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In the state of Washington, we have seven species of Microtus. However, in Whatcom County gardens, we are probably only dealing with two species: M. townsendii and oregoni. Voles are pear-shaped, portly, short-eared and short tailed critters. Townsend’s vole (M. townsendii) is about 6-10 inches in total length; tail included, and has a dark brown back with a gray underbelly. The creeping vole (M. oregoni) is smaller and about 4 ½-6 inches with a dark brown hide and a silver underbelly. Vole tails are scantily covered with hair and usually only about 2 inches long, with the exception of the ‘long-tailed vole.’
Voles can breed throughout the year, however most reproduction happens during favorable weather from March to September. Creeping voles peak reproduction occurs in spring, usually during April. Creeping voles have 3-4 babies per litter and an average of 4-8 litters per year. Townsend’s vole has a similar reproductive potential; litter sizes average 4-7 young with at least 2 litters per year. Gestation periods are short (less than a month) and females are ready to breed by 24 days old. As with insect or weed pests, you can see how these vertebrate pest populations can build rapidly under prime conditions.
The European Water Vole or Northern Water Vole, Arvicola amphibius (formerly A. terrestris), is a semi-aquatic rodent. It is often informally called the Water Rat or Ratty, although it only superficially resembles a true rat.[3] Water voles have rounder noses than rats, deep brown fur, chubby faces and short fuzzy ears; unlike rats their tails, paws and ears are covered with hair.
In the wild, they survive for 2 years on average; most do not survive a second winter. In captivity, they normally start to deteriorate in condition as they approach their third year, becoming thinner and losing much of their fur; they nearly all die during their third winter.
vole
The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | Copyright
vole name for a large number of mouselike rodents , related to the lemmings . Most range in length from 3 1/2 to 7 in. (9-18 cm) and have rounded bodies with gray or brown coats, blunt muzzles, small ears concealed in the long fur, and short tails. They are found in a wide variety of habitats. Of the approximately 70 vole species, over 40, distributed throughout North America, Eurasia, and North Africa, are classified in the genus Microtus. These voles typically make runways under dense vegetation or shallow burrows in the ground. They feed chiefly on grasses but also eat bark, leaves, seeds, and insects. They are known in North America as field mice or meadow mice (the Old World field mice are not voles). Like lemmings and various other small rodents, these voles periodically undergo population explosions which cause them to swarm over the countryside. Of similar distribution are the five species of red-backed voles, genus Clethrionomys, which spend much of their time in shrubs and bushes. Species of the North American genus Phenacomys nest in trees and are known as tree mice or lemming mice. The sagebrush vole, Lagarus curtatus, is found in the W United States. Other Lagarus species, found in S Russia and Mongolia, are misleadingly called steppe lemmings. The water vole, Arvicola, of Europe and W Asia, is a large, semiaquatic vole, somewhat resembling the closely related muskrat . Voles are classified in the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, order Rodentia, family Crecetidae. See also mouse

[UDoWhat]

I know a little but not much. We would get them in at the rehab center where I trained. If it is a meadow vole, it likes, fields, marshes , swamps, pastures. Voles are active day and night. They can have FV formula. At birth they are like sq. pinkies. Pink, no fur, need 6-8 feedings a day and 1 night feeding. At 1 week they get darker skin, fur starts to come in. Feed 6-8 times, 1 night feeding. They need to be stimulated just like squirrel babies. At 2 weeks old they are feed 4-5 times a day. My friend said they start to eat solid foods before they open their eyes. Eyes open at 3 weeks. At 3 weeks they get formula 2-3 times a day. Rodent block as the main staple, peeled apples, peeled grapes, veggies. Their natural diet is roots, foilage, twigs, bark, grains like corn, barley, wheat, hay also grasses and clover. Good news is release is at about 5 weeks. They nest under stuff like boards, logs and rocks. Hope that is some help.

[Lulu2010]

Thank you everyone for the help. I have been giving her pedialyte for now and plan on starting her on the Fox Valley. I had no idea if you had to stimulate them like squirrels but I did anyways and after reading this, apparently I did good. I have no idea how old this one is, but it is fully furred (I guess baby fur) and it is rather fluffy. It is the size of the circular part of the palm of a hand. Hard to explain but she is quite big to me. She is dark grey all over (not sure about tummy, I think lighter grey or white) and has dark grey tail and skin color feet. Her eyes are not open yet. I can't find much information on the internet about them. I appreciate all the help. I will try to get a picture up soon. I'm charging my phone because it died. Oh, I guess if I had to compare her to another animal, I'd say she looks an awful lot like a small grey chinchilla minus the fluffy tail.

[Pierre]

2 weeks eyes open formula 5 times a day and you or them swim supervised several times a day

...Get your bathing suit on, Lulu!


[Love it NG, you made me laugh out loud, and I needed that! So cute]

Good luck Lulu, can't wait to see a picture.

[UDoWhat]

I found an old book that said they have fur at 2 weeks and open eyes at 3 weeks. So according to this info maybe 2-2 1/2 weeks. Will be fun to see her grow.

[NaturesGift]

Lol major typo but it works!!!

[Pierre]

Lol major typo but it works!!!

Was great info and we all make typos, this one just had an especially funny visual---

Lulu, swimming around --supervised, mind you-- with a swim-cap on, in order to rehabilitate her little vole ....

Little vole, mesmerized and waiting patiently for his turn...

[Lulu2010]

You guys are funny!!! We don't have a pool so guess I will hold my swimming lessons in the bath tub. Lol.

She's doing really good. She is eating the fox valley really well, diluted right now. I'll move her to full strength later today. She seems to average about 2cc's. She's pooping and peeing good. I still don't have a name. I took some photos but have to upload them when I have time.

[lilidukes]

You guys are funny!!! We don't have a pool so guess I will hold my swimming lessons in the bath tub. Lol.

She's doing really good. She is eating the fox valley really well, diluted right now. I'll move her to full strength later today. She seems to average about 2cc's. She's pooping and peeing good. I still don't have a name. I took some photos but have to upload them when I have time.

[Lulu2010]

She's starting to open her eyes!! One is cracked!!!

[sdreamcatcher]

PICTURES!! I wanna see!! How very cool; sounds like she is doing well. Have you named her?

[Lulu2010]

PICTURES!! I wanna see!! How very cool; sounds like she is doing well. Have you named her?

I have pictures on my phone but I've been so busy I haven't had a chance to upload them and post them. I will try to do it tomorrow.
I'm still stumped on what to name her. She's so darn cute and feisty.

[UDoWhat]

How's the baby vole business going? I bet he is cute!

[stosh2010]

Good Morning ...Baby Vole....

Have you named her?

How about ???? "FIESTA".... It's Gonna be a PARTY
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Stosh >>> keeper of the KING ( of Costa Rica )

[Lulu2010]

How's the baby vole business going? I bet he is cute!

Cute is an understatement. Lol! She's so adorable. I'm gonna try to post some pics tonight. Both eyes are open, but she chooses to close them often. I guess they're still adjusting.

[Lulu2010]

Good Morning ...Baby Vole....

How about ???? "FIESTA".... It's Gonna be a PARTY
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Stosh >>> keeper of the KING ( of Costa Rica )

Lol! Thanks Stosh! It sure is a party with this gal! I think we are getting close to a name. I can feel it!