The field vole, also known as the common vole or meadow vole, can reach a head-body length of up to 130 mm, a tail length of up to 46 mm, and a weight of up to 50 g (Schaefer 2018). This species prefers moist areas with abundant ground vegetation, such as marshes, meadows, hedges, and forests. The upper side of its body is brownish in color, while the underside is grayish. Field voles are active both during the day and night, with a breeding season occurring between March and September. After a gestation period of about 21 days, 3 to 6 young are born per litter. Predators of the field vole include birds of prey such as buzzards or barn owls, as well as foxes (Southern 1965).

Diet: Microtus arvalis feeds exclusively on plant matter, preferring grasses, roots, and bark (Southern 1965).

Conservation status: The field vole is listed as “Least Concern” in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and the Red List of Germany.