The Red Tree Vole of the Pacific Northwest

Arborimus Longicaudus, otherwise known as the red tree vole, is one of the most curious rodents in the world. The species is found in a very specific region of the United States - northern California and southern Washington. There are about 70 species of voles in the world but the red tree vole is unique. They actually live in the huge fir and spruce trees that their habitat is known for.

Red tree voles are quite the little rodents with their habits. The females will build their nests in various parts of trees. These nests are found from the tops of the firs and spruce trees to the bottom branches. The males are the only ones to touch the ground and even they do not go far. The only time the females will go to the ground is if they are startled and trying to escape. The males will dig burrows at the base of the trees to nest in while the females and their offspring will share the nests in the trees.

The red tree vole collects little pine needles to bring back to their nests. These pine needles will represent the majority of their food intake throughout the day. They are able to get the dew off the needles to provide their water source, giving them little reason to move outside their ecosystem. Moving about only at night, they are very difficult to observe carefully in the wild. As such, the research on these animals in their natural habitat is limited.

Another curious thing about red tree voles is that they have very old nesting areas. They pass the nests down from generation to generation and they are added onto constantly. The nest is intricate and often has an area for using the bathroom, eating and resting. This is unique to the red tree vole.

Natural predators of the red tree vole include raccoons, owls and marten. These animals are highly susceptible to being taken and live their lives on alert constantly.

The red tree vole is tiny at only about 8 inches in length. They are colored differently according to where they are located. The southern red tree vole is actually close to an orange color while the northern red tree vole is a deep red color. They have long feet that are perfect for getting around and climbing the trees they inhabit.

Red tree voles live about two years and reach full maturity after only two months. They are considered at risk due to forestry and limited habitat.

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Red Tree Vole