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Rarely Seen - The Red Tree Vole

15 images Created 6 Feb 2015

Of the approximately 70 vole species known worldwide, the red tree vole (Arborimus longicaudus) has the unique distinction of living high in the canopy of old-growth forests. It feeds on toxic conifer needles, and fastidiously peels away the needle's resin ducts, and consumes the heart. The discarded resin ducts are then used for nesting.
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  • A male red tree vole (Arborimus longicaudus) eating a Douglas fir needle. Red tree voles are rarely seen. They are nocturnal and live in Douglas fir tree tops and almost never come to the forest floor.  They are one of the few animals that can persist on a diet of conifer needles which is their principle food.  As a defense mechanism, conifer trees have resin ducts in their needles that contain chemical compounds (terpenoids) that make them unpalatable to animals.  Tree voles, however, are able to strip away these resin ducts and eat the remaining portion of the conifer needle.
    Red_Tree_vole_21414rv-197.jpg
  • A male red tree vole (Arborimus longicaudus) eating a Douglas fir needle. Red tree voles are rarely seen. They are nocturnal and live in Douglas fir tree tops and almost never come to the forest floor.  They are one of the few animals that can persist on a diet of conifer needles which is their principle food.  As a defense mechanism, conifer trees have resin ducts in their needles that contain chemical compounds (terpenoids) that make them unpalatable to animals.  Tree voles, however, are able to strip away these resin ducts and eat the remaining portion of the conifer needle.
    Red_Tree_vole_21414rv-173.jpg
  • A red tre vole (Arborimus longicaudus) mom and her 30 day old offspring. Red tree voles are nocturnal and live in Douglas fir tree-tops and almost never come to the forest floor.  They are one of the few animals that can persist on a diet of conifer needles which is their principle food.  As a defense mechanism, conifer trees have resin ducts in their needles that contain chemical compounds (terpenoids) that make them unpalatable to animals.  Tree voles, however, are able to strip away these resin ducts and eat the remaining portion of the conifer needle.
    22514rv-234.jpg
  • A red tre vole (Arborimus longicaudus) mom and her 30 day old offspring. Red tree voles are nocturnal and live in Douglas fir tree-tops and almost never come to the forest floor.  They are one of the few animals that can persist on a diet of conifer needles which is their principle food.  As a defense mechanism, conifer trees have resin ducts in their needles that contain chemical compounds (terpenoids) that make them unpalatable to animals.  Tree voles, however, are able to strip away these resin ducts and eat the remaining portion of the conifer needle.
    22514rv-229.jpg
  • A young (31day old) red tree vole (Arborimus longicaudus) among Douglas fir needles. Red tree voles are rarely seen. They are nocturnal and live in Douglas fir tree tops and almost never come to the forest floor.  They are one of the few animals that can persist on a diet of conifer needles which is their principle food.  As a defense mechanism, conifer trees have resin ducts in their needles that contain chemical compounds (terpenoids) that make them unpalatable to animals.  Tree voles, however, are able to strip away these resin ducts and eat the remaining portion of the conifer needle.
    Red_Tree_vole_21414rv-241.jpg
  • A female red tree vole (Arborimus longicaudus) among Douglas fir needles. Red tree voles are rarely seen. They are nocturnal and live in Douglas fir tree tops and almost never come to the forest floor.  They are one of the few animals that can persist on a diet of conifer needles which is their principle food.  As a defense mechanism, conifer trees have resin ducts in their needles that contain chemical compounds (terpenoids) that make them unpalatable to animals.  Tree voles, however, are able to strip away these resin ducts and eat the remaining portion of the conifer needle.
    Red_Tree_vole_21414rv-228.jpg
  • A male red tree vole (Arborimus longicaudus) among Douglas fir needles. Red tree voles are rarely seen. They are nocturnal and live in Douglas fir tree tops and almost never come to the forest floor.  They are one of the few animals that can persist on a diet of conifer needles which is their principle food.  As a defense mechanism, conifer trees have resin ducts in their needles that contain chemical compounds (terpenoids) that make them unpalatable to animals.  Tree voles, however, are able to strip away these resin ducts and eat the remaining portion of the conifer needle.
    Red_Tree_vole_21414rv-278.jpg
  • A male red tree vole (Arborimus longicaudus) among Douglas fir needles. Red tree voles are rarely seen. They are nocturnal and live in Douglas fir tree tops and almost never come to the forest floor.  They are one of the few animals that can persist on a diet of conifer needles which is their principle food.  As a defense mechanism, conifer trees have resin ducts in their needles that contain chemical compounds (terpenoids) that make them unpalatable to animals.  Tree voles, however, are able to strip away these resin ducts and eat the remaining portion of the conifer needle.
    Red_Tree_vole_21414rv-272.jpg
  • A male red tree vole (Arborimus longicaudus) among Douglas fir needles. Red tree voles are rarely seen. They are nocturnal and live in Douglas fir tree tops and almost never come to the forest floor.  They are one of the few animals that can persist on a diet of conifer needles which is their principle food.  As a defense mechanism, conifer trees have resin ducts in their needles that contain chemical compounds (terpenoids) that make them unpalatable to animals.  Tree voles, however, are able to strip away these resin ducts and eat the remaining portion of the conifer needle.
    Red_Tree_vole_21414rv-268.jpg
  • A male red tree vole (Arborimus longicaudus) among Douglas fir needles. Red tree voles are rarely seen. They are nocturnal and live in Douglas fir tree tops and almost never come to the forest floor.  They are one of the few animals that can persist on a diet of conifer needles which is their principle food.  As a defense mechanism, conifer trees have resin ducts in their needles that contain chemical compounds (terpenoids) that make them unpalatable to animals.  Tree voles, however, are able to strip away these resin ducts and eat the remaining portion of the conifer needle.
    Red_Tree_vole_21414rv-257.jpg
  • A female red tree vole (Arborimus longicaudus) among Douglas fir needles. Red tree voles are rarely seen. They are nocturnal and live in Douglas fir tree tops and almost never come to the forest floor.  They are one of the few animals that can persist on a diet of conifer needles which is their principle food.  As a defense mechanism, conifer trees have resin ducts in their needles that contain chemical compounds (terpenoids) that make them unpalatable to animals.  Tree voles, however, are able to strip away these resin ducts and eat the remaining portion of the conifer needle.
    Red_Tree_vole_21414rv-138.jpg
  • A female red tree vole (Arborimus longicaudus) among Douglas fir needles. Red tree voles are rarely seen. They are nocturnal and live in Douglas fir tree tops and almost never come to the forest floor.  They are one of the few animals that can persist on a diet of conifer needles which is their principle food.  As a defense mechanism, conifer trees have resin ducts in their needles that contain chemical compounds (terpenoids) that make them unpalatable to animals.  Tree voles, however, are able to strip away these resin ducts and eat the remaining portion of the conifer needle.
    Red_Tree_vole_21414rv-127.jpg
  • A female red tree vole (Arborimus longicaudus) among Douglas fir needles. Red tree voles are rarely seen. They are nocturnal and live in Douglas fir tree tops and almost never come to the forest floor.  They are one of the few animals that can persist on a diet of conifer needles which is their principle food.  As a defense mechanism, conifer trees have resin ducts in their needles that contain chemical compounds (terpenoids) that make them unpalatable to animals.  Tree voles, however, are able to strip away these resin ducts and eat the remaining portion of the conifer needle.
    Red_Tree_vole_21414rv-110.jpg
  • A red tree vole (Arborimus longicaudus) sleeps in a nest made from the discarded resin ducts from Douglas-fir needles, Fresh, uneaten needle clippings are also present. Red tree voles are nocturnal and live in Douglas fir tree-tops and almost never come to the forest floor.  They are one of the few animals that can persist on a diet of conifer needles which is their principle food.  As a defense mechanism, conifer trees have resin ducts in their needles that contain chemical compounds (terpenoids) that make them unpalatable to animals.  Tree voles, however, are able to strip away these resin ducts and eat the remaining portion of the conifer needle.
    22514rv-273.jpg
  • A young red tree vole (Arborimus longicaudus) travels through a passage in a nest made from the discarded resin ducts from Douglas-fir needles; a byproduct of their diet. Fresh, uneaten fir needles are also present. Red tree voles are nocturnal and live in Douglas fir tree-tops and almost never come to the forest floor.  They are one of the few animals that can persist on a diet of conifer needles which is their principle food.  As a defense mechanism, conifer trees have resin ducts in their needles that contain chemical compounds (terpenoids) that make them unpalatable to animals.  Tree voles, however, are able to strip away these resin ducts and eat the remaining portion of the conifer needle.
    22514rv-252.jpg
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