What is the typical home range of voles in the field?

• A. 1/4 acre or less
• B. 1/2 mile
• C. 10 acres
• D. 100 acres

Answer: (A)

Voles stay close to food and cover, so their movements are tightly localized. In field conditions, their home range is very small—about a quarter of an acre or less. This compact use of space means a population can be concentrated in a relatively small patch, with many runs and burrow networks packed into that area. For management, that implies trapping or baiting is most effective when focused within that small zone where activity is observed, rather than trying to treat large tracts. Larger ranges like half a mile or tens of acres aren’t typical for voles in standard field settings.