Sonoma Tree Vole Tracks and Signs

Sonoma Tree Vole
Tracks and Sign

Arborimus pomo

Sonoma Tree Vole

Sonoma Tree Vole nest remains

Sonoma Tree Vole nest in tree

Sonoma tree vole sign. The things that look like sticks are the resin duts from Douglas fir needles. each needle has two ducts. The tree vole does not eat these, but peels them off much like you would peel the stringy stuff off a stick of celery. Then, it eats the needle and discards the ducts. Feeding is done atop the nest, so all the discarded ducts build up over time to form more nest material. Scats are also deposited, helping to cement together the ducts into a nest. The tree vole can burrow into this and make nest chambers. When windstorms blow parts of the nest away, trackers can find it on the ground, as seen in the photos. Since Sonoma tree voles nest high in the trees, sometimes at the end of branches, this is the most reliable clue to their presence. You may also find small twigs that have been debarked since tree voles eat these too.

Aside from the porcupine, the Sonoma tree vole (related to the red tree vole) is the only arboreal folivore on the North American continent. An arboreal folivore is a species that eats leaves in the trees. The porcupine and tree voles are the only ones in North America.

Sonoma tree vole sign.

Sonoma tree vole scat

Discarded resin ducts

Sonoma tree vole scat

Sonoma tree vole scat and resin ducts

Sonoma tree vole sign

Sonoma tree vole scat

Sonoma tree vole sign

Resin ducts fallen to the ground

Resin ducts fallen to the ground below a nest tree

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