A Population Study of the Prairie Vole (Microtus ochrogaster) in Northeastern Kansas

In the rolling grasslands of northeastern Kansas, a tiny, industrious rodent shapes the very texture of the landscape. This study follows the prairie vole, a species whose feeding, trampling and burrowing influence plant communities and provide a vital link in local food webs. Drawing on extensive field notes and fresh observations from the University of Kansas Natural History Reservation, the author sets out to fill long‑standing gaps in our knowledge of this understudied mammal.

Through systematic trapping, habitat surveys and detailed measurements, the work maps population density, home‑range patterns and seasonal activity across a mosaic of recovering prairie and woodland edges. Listeners will hear about the vole’s diet, nesting habits, litter sizes and growth rates, as well as the challenges posed by predators and parasites. The findings illuminate how a seemingly modest creature can drive ecological processes, offering a clear window into grassland dynamics during a period of environmental change.