Posted by Jim DeWitt on October 28, 2011 at 2:14 AM
This pale fellow is one of two leucistic Red-backed Voles that turned up in our front yard this fall. Th pale fur may even be advantageous in the very low snow conditions we had in recent winters, when they can't tunnel.
The photo was taken by my wife, Nancy, in very low light conditions, and is a 50% crop.
Posted by David Graham on October 28, 2011 at 7:48 PM
Great shot, Jim, but from this image I can't tell if the iris of the eye is pigmented or not. if good light revals him ( her?) to have a pink eye, I'd call it an albino.
Dave Graham
East River, SD
Posted by Jim DeWitt on October 28, 2011 at 11:41 PM
My wife live-trapped one of the two pale voles and surrendered the little guy to the Dr. Link Olson, Curator of Mammalogy, University of Alaska Museum of the North. Even in the hand, Link was unable to say for certain if it is leucistic or albino.
You call it.
Posted by Ron Dudley on October 29, 2011 at 12:45 PM
Interesting shots Jim - both of them. Nice to see the close up - the only time I see voles this detailed is when they're being torn apart by kestrels. Not a pretty sight.
That's wild Jim. We can have voles around here by the thousands in a "good" year, and I haven't seen any like that in close to 40 years. Based on our garden, I'd say this was a "good" year! I assume it's the same up your way.
Discussion
5 repliesThe photo was taken by my wife, Nancy, in very low light conditions, and is a 50% crop.
Dave Graham
East River, SD
You call it.
Sandy