Across the Potomac River from Virginia, a vole made the national news by appearing for reporters ahead of President Obama at the White House. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs referred to the animal as a rat. Initial ABC news reports referred to the rodent as a rat or mouse.

The rodent – either a mouse or a rat– apparently made two dashes, once immediately before the president emerged from the door of the Oval Office and again during the president’s remarks. Mr. Obama did not seem to notice the little animal.

Not a Rat

Unlike mice and rats, voles have short tails. Here at Old Dominion Wildlife HQ, voles have been spotted near underground tunnel systems in the yard.

Vole Hole

Vole Control

Rat snakes have been spotted exploring the vole tunnel systems to help control their population. Another technique for dealing with voles is to seal off tunnel entrances with stone dust.

I am yet to get a good picture of a vole, but here is one I took through the kitchen window.

Vole