Bank Vole
| Irish Name: | Vol bruaigh |
| Scientific name: | Clethrionomys glareolus |
Bank voles are not native to Ireland and might have been inadvertently introduced to the southwest of the country in the 1920s. Similar to mice, shrews, and other small mammals, the bank vole serves as a crucial prey species for numerous predatory birds and animals in Ireland, including the fox, stoat, kestrel, and hen harrier. In some areas, they have been discovered to constitute up to 35% of the barn owl’s total diet.
Identification
Bank voles, often confused with mice due to their size, are diminutive rodents. They typically have compact bodies measuring around 15cm from head to tail tip, inclusive of a 5cm long tail, and can weigh between 15 to 40 grams. Sporting small eyes and ears, as well as a blunt nose, they present distinct physical differences from mice, particularly in their shorter, fur-covered tails and blunt noses.
More details can be found at https://www.conserveireland.com/mammals/bank-vole.php.