Are There Voles in Mississippi?
Yes, voles are present throughout Mississippi in grasslands, forests, and wetlands, particularly in northern regions and elevated areas. These small rodents live year-round across the state, though they are less abundant than in northern states. Voles are an important food source for owls, hawks, weasels, and other Mississippi predators.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 22, 2026.
California Vole · Cricket Raspet CC BY
Woodland Vole · Violet T. CC BY
Eastern Meadow Vole · rubyheron CC BY-ND
- 152
- GBIF records
Yes, voles are in Mississippi. Next you'll want:
Yes, voles are present throughout Mississippi in grasslands, forests, and wetlands, particularly in northern regions and elevated areas. These small rodents live year-round across the state, though they are less abundant than in northern states. Voles are an important food source for owls, hawks, weasels, and other Mississippi predators.
Where Voles Are Found in Mississippi
Voles are present throughout Mississippi, found in suitable habitats from the north to south. Northern Mississippi's higher elevation areas, including the hills and ridges near the Tennessee border, support the most strong vole populations. The Mississippi River delta region contains vole populations in remaining grassland and wetland habitats. Central Mississippi's interior forests, forest clearings, and agricultural areas host vole populations. The Tombigbee River valley in northeastern Mississippi provides good vole habitat. Eastern Mississippi's deciduous forests and associated meadows support voles. Western Mississippi's agricultural areas and field margins contain vole populations. Southern Mississippi's lowland forests have fewer voles but some populations persist in suitable grassland habitat. Voles are year-round residents of Mississippi, though they are less visibly active during the state's hot summers. To learn more aboutMississippi's native wildlife, explore guides for other animals in the state. Visit the detailedvole guidefor more information about this rodent in Mississippi.
Season and Activity Patterns
Voles remain active year-round in Mississippi, unlike many animals that migrate or hibernate. They are most abundant and visible in late fall and early spring when temperatures are moderate. Female voles produce multiple litters from fall through early spring, leading to population increases during cooler months. During Mississippi's mild winters, voles remain active throughout the season, feeding on available vegetation and stored food. Activity decreases significantly during Mississippi's hot, humid summers, when voles are less active and visible. Breeding intensifies as temperatures cool in autumn. Voles are primarily nocturnal and crepuscular, most active during twilight hours and throughout the night. They become less active during the heat of the day, especially in summer. Population numbers follow cycles typical of vole populations, though cycles may be less pronounced in warmer southern climates. Mississippi's warm winters and hot summers create a different activity pattern than in northern states. Vole populations in Mississippi tend to be smaller and more stable year-round compared to northern regions.
Identifying Voles
Mississippi voles are small rodents measuring four to five inches in total length. They have stocky, compact bodies with rounded heads and small ears mostly hidden by fur. Their eyes are very small and dark. Fur color ranges from dark brown to grayish-brown depending on the vole species. The meadow vole is the most common Mississippi vole species. Meadow voles have moderately longer tails relative to body size. Woodland voles also occur in Mississippi's forested areas and have shorter tails and smaller eyes. Pine voles, found in some Mississippi regions, have very small eyes and ears and short tails. Voles lack the sharp pointed snouts of shrews and are larger than house mice with proportionally shorter tails. Their continuously growing teeth have orange-tinted outer edges visible if examined closely. Males and females look identical in the field. Young voles resemble smaller adults with slightly duller fur coloring. All Mississippi vole species display distinctive runway patterns in grass and soil. These features distinguish voles from similar small mammals found throughout Mississippi.
Where Voles Concentrate in Mississippi
Voles concentrate in grasslands, meadows, and old field habitats where they are found in Mississippi. Northern Mississippi's hay fields and pastures, particularly in the hill region from DeSoto County southward, support the largest vole concentrations. The agricultural areas of central Mississippi host vole populations in field margins and pastures. Forest clearings and areas with dense herbaceous ground cover attract voles. Wetland margins around Mississippi's streams and river systems, including areas along the Mississippi River, the Tombigbee, and other waterways, provide vole habitat. Roadsides with tall unmowed grass provide habitat where voles move between larger patches. Power line rights-of-way throughout Mississippi occasionally support vole populations. State wildlife management areas managed by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks support vole populations. Residential yards and gardens with dense vegetation in Mississippi towns and cities may harbor voles. Voles are less common in Mississippi's extensive pine forests unless clearing provides grassland habitat. These concentrated areas provide hunting grounds for owls, hawks, and weasels. Explore theMississippi wildlife pagefor information about other state animals and their habitats.
Vole Behavior and Diet
Voles are herbivorous rodents feeding primarily on grasses and other vegetation. They consume seeds, roots, clover, bulbs, and bark, with diet varying seasonally. During Mississippi's mild winters, voles continue to feed on available vegetation and stored food without the intense snow-covered period of northern states. They create and maintain runway systems through grass and leaf litter, forming highways used repeatedly for travel and foraging. Voles are social animals living in loose colonies with flexible hierarchies. Breeding voles defend small territories around nesting sites. Young voles mature quickly and disperse to establish new territories, enabling population growth in suitable habitats. Voles construct underground burrow systems with multiple chambers for nesting and food storage. These burrows provide shelter during all seasons. Voles communicate through ultrasonic vocalizations and chemical scent marking. They are most active during cooler parts of the day and during twilight hours. Activity levels decrease significantly during Mississippi's hot summer months. Evidence of vole activity includes visible runway patterns, droppings along pathways, and chewed vegetation in active areas.
Coexistence and Safety
Voles are harmless to humans and pose no disease risk to Mississippi residents or pets. They are a natural part of Mississippi's ecosystem, serving as food for raptors, weasels, snakes, and other predators. Voles rarely enter homes and generally cause no direct problems for residents. If voles are present in yards, maintaining longer grass and removing excess thatch can discourage activity. Removing dense vegetation or mulch near buildings may encourage voles to relocate to more suitable nearby habitat. Live trapping and relocation are rarely necessary and generally ineffective, as other voles will quickly occupy vacated areas. Chemical pesticides are not recommended and may harm the predators that depend on voles for food. Voles have no special legal protection in Mississippi but are important ecosystem members. Supporting healthy vole populations helps sustain the entireMississippi wildlifearea. For more information on coexisting with Mississippi's native animals, visitthis wildlife sitefor guides covering the state and surrounding regions.
Species Often Confused With Voles
Mississippi residents sometimes confuse voles with several similar small mammals found in the state. Shrews resemble voles but have distinctly pointed snouts, smaller eyes, and sharper facial features. Shrews produce a distinctive musky odor when stressed or handled. House mice have proportionally larger ears, much longer tails, and more pointed faces than voles. White-footed mice, common in Mississippi's woodlands, similarly have larger ears and longer tails than voles. Young rats might be mistaken for large voles but have much larger ears, naked tails, and different facial proportions. Moles, though sometimes confused with voles due to their fossorial habits, have enlarged front feet adapted for digging and more cylindrical body shapes. The eastern mole, found in Mississippi, has characteristic shovel-like front feet unlike voles. Identifying features like tail length, ear size, and snout shape help distinguish these species. Voles have relatively short tails and very small ears compared to most similar mammals. Learning these differences helps correctly identify small mammals in Mississippi. Review thevole guidefor detailed identification information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Are voles dangerous to pets? Answer: Voles do not threaten cats or dogs. Pets may hunt voles naturally, which helps control populations in Mississippi. Ensure pets remain current on vaccinations and parasite prevention. Question: Are voles common in Mississippi? Answer: Voles are less abundant in Mississippi than in northern states, but they are present year-round, especially in northern regions and areas with suitable grassland habitat. Question: How do I know if voles live on my Mississippi property? Answer: Look for small runway patterns visible through grass and along soil surfaces. These tiny highways through vegetation indicate vole activity on your property. Question: Do voles leave properties naturally? Answer: Yes, voles naturally move and disperse, especially during Mississippi's cooler months when young voles search for new territories. Reducing dense vegetation and mulch makes your property less attractive to voles, encouraging relocation. For more questions aboutMississippi wildlife, consult the comprehensive resources available on this site.
Plan your vole sighting in Mississippi
152 verified vole records have been logged in Mississippi, most recently in 2025. See the GBIF records.
Where to look in Mississippi
- Gulf Islands National Seashore · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Natchez Trace Parkway · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Shiloh National Military Park · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site · Find hotels
- Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument · Find hotels
- Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument · Find hotels
More places to see vole
More wildlife in Mississippi