bout the same age as a coat of hair and the ability to crawl vigorously develop. Weaning is complete at 17-21 days, and breeding may commence at 2-3 months. The potential life span is at least 14 months, but adults are unlikely to survive more than 2-3 months.
Predators: Some of the predators of the woodland vole are the northern harrier, red-tailed and broad-winged hawks; great horned, barred, and screech owls; red and gray foxes, mink, raccoon, and opossum.
- Social system - The mating relationships and social organization of the woodland vole are unknown. A few observations (several adults sharing the same tunnel system; three females bearing litters in a communal nest) made throughout the range suggest this vole is tolerant of its neighbors, gregarious, and possibly, monogamous. Adults of both sexes have small home ranges of 0.1-0.2 ha (0.25-0.5 acre) that overlap, and tend to remain within these home ranges or gradually shift them in response to depleted food supplies. Average densities in forested habitat are 15-25 voles per ha (6-10 per acre) and are relatively stable compared to the meadow vole. Woodland voles in orchards may exist at higher densities, in one instance estimated at 625 individuals per ha (250 per acre).
- Communication - Anal and hip glands are probable sources of products regulating social behavior, but the chemical ecology and other facets of communication are not known. The enlarges hip glands of breeding males may elicit aggressive behavior from receptive females that leads to mating. Adults vocalize in aggressive or alarm contexts, producing one to multiple-note calls often described as chattering or chirping.
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