Found almost exclusively in western Oregon’s coniferous forests, this vole is a true arboreal specialist, spending nearly its entire life in the canopy of Douglas-fir and other conifer trees. While most voles scurry through grasses or underbrush, the red tree vole has adapted to a treetop lifestyle, where it feeds, nests, and raises its young high above the ground. It blends seamlessly into its leafy surroundings with soft reddish-brown fur, a small, rounded body, and long whiskers. Its lifestyle is so hidden that many people who live near its forests never even know it’s there.

Unlike most rodents that eat seeds, fruits, or a wide mix of plants, the red tree vole feeds almost entirely on the needles of Douglas-fir trees. These needles are tough, resinous, and low in nutrition, yet the vole has developed a way to survive on them. It carefully strips off the resin ducts when feeding and chews the needles into digestible bits. Over time, this needle-based diet leaves distinctive signs: their fecal pellets carry a strong resin smell and a greenish hue, evidence of their unusual menu. Because they rely so heavily on Douglas-firs, red tree voles are strongly tied to old-growth forests where these trees dominate, making them particularly vulnerable to logging and habitat loss.

High in the forest canopy, these voles weave elaborate homes from shredded fir needles, bark, and twigs. Some nests are modest, built for single use, while others grow into large, complex structures used by multiple generations. These nests serve as both bedrooms and pantries, storing food to sustain the vole when conditions are poor. Solitary by nature, red tree voles typically live alone in their nests, but they may sometimes overlap territories in forests with abundant resources. They are nocturnal, venturing out at night to gather fresh needles, always staying close to the cover of the trees.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

United States

NT

2016