Preferred habitats include areas with fairly dense ground vegetation. Meadow voles are more common in low, moist areas or upland sites near water. Pine voles live in timbered areas, underground or under the forest litter. They also inhabit fields surrounding timber, if enough ground cover is present. Prairie and meadow voles construct surface runways that are easy to recognize by the closely clipped vegetation within them.
Small holes lead to underground runways and nesting areas.
Pine voles have extensive underground runway systems, and spend little time above the leaf litter and ground cover layer. The three species of voles in Nebraska differ in color, general size and relative length of tail, but it usually isn't necessary to distinguish between the species to control the damage they cause. The exception may be for persons living in the extreme southeast corner of Nebraska who have problems with pine voles. Since pine voles spend almost all of their time underground, control strategies may need to be different from those for prairie or meadow voles. Economic Importance Probably the most extensive and costly damage caused by voles occurs to woody plants in winter.