Social voles live in small family units with a breeding pair and 1-2 litters. A family burrow system extends 6-4-160m and can be displaced in the event of excessive droughts, heavy rains and fires. Social voles move to a new site during the night. More than 50% of breeding voles are monogamous. Males can control two females that maintain own home ranges. Pair stability is a precondition for breeding; formation of pairs is initiated by increased mobility of males. Young males frequently excavate burrows not far from their natal dens and associate with homeless females. |
