A Range Extension for the Rock Vole, Microtus chrotorrhinus, in Labrador

• Published in: The Canadian Field-Naturalist
• Main Author: Lansing, Sarah W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club 2005
• Subjects: Rock Vole; Microtus chrotorrhinus; Labrador; distribution; Strait of Belle Isle
• Online Access: https://www.canadianfieldnaturalist.ca/index.php/cfn/article/view/153; https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v119i3.153

Rock Voles (Microtus chrotorrhinus) were previously documented only from the southern coast of Labrador and the Strait of Belle Isle south of Hamilton Inlet. During two field seasons in 2000 and 2001, both in July, six Rock Vole specimens were collected on Southern Island, off the north-central coast of Labrador, extending the range of the subspecies Microtus chrotorrhinus ravus approximately 250 km to the central Labrador coast north of Hamilton Inlet. Rock Voles were trapped primarily in stunted Black Spruce (Picea mariana) forest and areas associated with rocks, thick brush, and water.