Name that Mole
Southern Red-backed Vole
Woodland Vole
Meadow Vole
Prairie Vole
100
Which mole is all dark grey to all black, which mole is mostly silver?
What is the Star-nosed mole is mostly grey to all black, the Eastern Mole is mostly silver (sometimes dark to grey).
100
Everyone knows what color my back is ... but what color is my belly?
What is silvery white?
100
My nickname is the ______ mole. I don't know why people call me this, I like to hang out in forests with decaying leaves (decidous forests) not pine forests (coniferous forests). Even my latin name means this
What is ... My latin name means "pinetorum", referring to a pine habitat. This is NOT true because the Woodland love likes to hang out in DECIDOUS FORESTS, which means it has leafy trees.
100
I am mistaken commonly for the ________ or __________. True or False: This is because I like mice.
What is the "Field Mouse" or "Meadow Mouse". (hint *** think of "FM"). FALSE ... I won't even go in a house where mice are! I am NOT a mouse... I am a VOLE!
100
Look at my tracks. How many toe pads do I have on my hind feet?
What is FIVE?
200
I like to hang out in ponds, lakes, and streams ... therefore I am the only mole who likes to eat fish and crustaceans.
What is the Star-nosed mole?
200
I like to "hang out" with this other type of vole.
What is the Meadow Vole?
200
My tail is unlike any other vole ... explain why.
What is the Woodland's vole is bicolored (has two colors), it gradually changes from dark above to light below.
200
True or False: I like the full moon.
What is FALSE: The Meadow Vole is less active during a full moon.
200
How do I find my babies when it's dark outside?
What is by an ultrasonic sound, which helps me locate them in the dark.
300
I am the most subterranean mammal, I spend 99% of my life underground in its tunnel system. This is why my tracks are rarely seen.
What is the Eastern Mole?
300
It seems like everyone wants to eat me! Name the five animals (3 mammals, 2 birds) that like to hunt me.
What is the: 1. Fox 2. Short-tailed Weasel 3. Coyote 4. Hawk 5. Owl
300
What is my genus name?
What is "Microtus", which means "small ears", this is because the Woodland Vole has tiny ears.
300
True or false: The Meadow vole is the only small mammal that is strictly vegetarian and eats NO INSECTS.
What is True.
300
You can find me by my "runway" cut out in the grass. Look on page 74 and describe what my runway looks like. Since prairies have a lot of grass, this vole's population goes up and down as moisture is available to grow grass.
What is see page 74.
400
I can do somersaults and completely turn around in my tunnel, because I have narrow pelvis.
What is the Eastern Mole?
400
True or False: I do not hibernate.
What is true. The Southern Red-backed vole is active day and night. It does NOT hibernate.
400
True or False: The Woodland vole has a "peak and crash" population. This is common in ALL voles.
What is FALSE. The Woodland vole is the only vole who doesn't seem to have a "peak and crash" population. This means if there are too many of them, the population will decline rapidly.
400
True or False: I am very rare.
What is FALSE: The Meadow Vole is the MOST COMMONLY FOUND (prolific) mammal on earth!
400
True or False: Since there are a lot of prairies in Michigan, you can find a lot of Prairie Voles.
What is FALSE. There are NOT a lot of prairies in Michigan and even in places where there are a lot of prairies (see distribution map, pg. 73), the populations of Prairie Voles can range from a few dozen to several hundred an acre.
500
How many pink fleshy projections does the Star-nosed Mole have on its nose?
What is TWENTY OR MORE?
500
I like to eat fungi, a green plant material ... in order to do this I have a special large pouch called a ___________. What does this pouch do?
What is the CECUM? The cecum is a pouch that contains microscopic bacteria (microflora) that help break down hard to digest cellulose, which is found in green plants.
500
What does the Meadow Vole's tail look like?
What is it is back at the tip and then gradually gets lighter.
500
I am only active for ____ hour cycles.
What is FOUR. The Prairie Vole is active is active in 4-hour cycles with more daytime activity in winter and less during hot summer months.
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