Microtus townsendii
Silhouette: Edwin Price · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Townsend's vole (Microtus townsendii) is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae, the sister species of M. canicaudus. It is found in temperate grasslands of British Columbia in Canada and in the states of Washington and Oregon in the United States.
Greek root words for "small ear" are the source for the genus name Microtus. American naturalist and writer John Kirk Townsend collected the type specimen in 1835, which accounts for the second part of the name. Townsend's vole is one of the largest voles in North America, growing to a total length of 169 to 225 mm (6.7 to 8.9 in) including a tail of 48 to 70 mm (1.9 to 2.8 in), and a weight of 48 to 73 g (1.7 to 2.6 oz). The ears are wide and prominent, being clearly visible above the fur, which is thin and coarse. The upper surface is dark brown with many guard hairs with black tips and the underparts are paler. The feet are slate grey and the tail is blackish above and dark brown beneath. Juveniles are generally darker than adults with dark grey underparts and black tails and feet.
Townsend's vole is found in the extreme west of North America. Its range extends from Vancouver Island... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
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More parks will be added in future updates.
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Townsend's Vole sighting in Seattle on a given day, based on 10 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 22nd most-seen of the 25 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Townsend's Vole in Seattle on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Between 9 am and noon
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Townsend's Vole sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 3 cities where we can rate Townsend's Vole sightings, Seattle ranks 2nd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Portland (United States, under 5%).
Same family: Cricetidae
The closest relatives of the Townsend's Vole that you can see in Seattle (family Cricetidae, Hamsters, Voles, Lemmings, and Allies) are Muskrat (about 10%) and Deer Mouse (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Townsend's Vole is recorded against all the mammals logged in Seattle (10 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
