West of Cascade Range Crest, Oregon and Washington

Species facts

Mammal; small rodent; 6-8 inches long

How to identify

Brownish-red fur above, lighter colored fur underneath, about the size of a mouse, but with short tail and small, round ears.

Habitat

Old-growth Douglas-fir. The red tree vole builds its nest on the large, platformlike branches of old-growth trees.

Food

Favorite food is green Douglas-fir needles; will also eat true fir and hemlock needles.

Interesting facts

In an old-growth Douglas-fir, when young voles move out of their mother's nest, they may move to another branch on the same tree. Generation after generation of red tree voles may live in a single tree, building nests throughout the tree's branches.