Chipmunk vs Vole: Difference and Comparison

In the World, people are from different family backgrounds. Animals are living beings, as humans have their families. The Chipmunk and Vole are living beings on the planet from other families. Chipmunks and Vole are rodents.

Key Takeaways

1. Chipmunks are larger than voles, with longer tails and stripes on their backs, while voles are smaller and have shorter tails and brown or grey fur.
2. Chipmunks are diurnal and active during the day, while voles are nocturnal and active at night.
3. Chipmunks have cheek pouches to carry food, while voles do not have cheek pouches.

Chipmunk vs Vole

Chipmunks are a type of ground squirrel and are recognizable by their striped back and cheek pouches. Voles are mouse-like rodents with a stocky build, short tails, and round ears. Chipmunks are known for agility and are seen in more open environments like forests and parks. Voles are burrowing animals found in denser grassy areas or near water sources. Chipmunks are also known for hoarding food for the winter, while voles have a more consistent food supply due to their burrowing habits.

Chipmunks originated from North America. These are the small striped rodents from the Sciuridae family. Chipmunks look like Squirrels, which are known as ‘tree squirrels. Siberian chipmunks from the same family are found in Asia.

An Eastern Chipmunk can live nearly three years, whereas Siberian Chipmunks can live 6-10 years. Some are Siberian chipmunks, Long-eared chipmunks, Least chipmunks, and California chipmunks. The Order of the Chipmunk is Rodentia.

The Chipmunk can travel up to 21 miles per hour.

Voles originate in North America. These are the small rodents from The Cricetidae family. The order of Voles is Rodentia. Voles are also called meadow mice or field mice in North America.

They can travel 6 miles per hour. The Lifespan of a vole is 12 months. European water voles can live longer than 12 months and die in winter. There are 124 species, and most species are in the United States.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Chipmunk	Vole
Meaning	Chipmunks are small striped rodents found in North America and Asia.	Voles are small rodents found in North America and Europe.
Family	These are from the Sciuridae family.	These are from the Cricetidae family.
Looks like	Chipmunks look like squirrels. These are also known as ‘tree squirrels’.	Voles are similar to rats or mice. These are also known as meadow mice or field mice.
Lifespan	Live longer than 3 years, whereas Siberian Chipmunks live 6-10 years.	The Life cycle of Voles is nearly 12 months, where European water voles die in the second or third winter.
Kingdom and Class	Animalia. Class- Mammalian	Animalia, Mammalian.
Travel	Chipmunks can travel up to 21 miles per hour.	Voles can travel 6 miles per hour.

 What is Chipmunk?

Chipmunks are small striped rodents originating from North America, except Siberian. In Asian countries, we can find Siberian Chipmunks. Chipmunks are the Sciuridae family.

There are different species of Chipmunks with several features. Some other names for chipmunks with features are Siberian Chipmunk, Long-eared chipmunks, Least chipmunk, California chipmunk, and others.

The length of the Chipmunks is different from their features. The Life cycle of Chipmunks is nearly three years, whereas the Siberian Chipmunks live 6-10 years.

These are Mammalians, and the Phylum is ‘Chordata.’ The kingdom of Chipmunks is Animalia. Chipmunks are similar to Squirrels, also known as ‘tree squirrels.’ 

The mass of the Siberian Chipmunk is 50-150g. The other Chipmunks’ group is different from Siberian Chipmunks. The Gestation period of Chipmunks is between 28-35 days. Chipmunks can travel up to 21 miles per hour.

These can live in mountains, forests, and deserts. They can jump and climb trees, and they are good swimmers. Chipmunks love to live in holes, dens, and caves. Chipmunks spend the winter sleeping in shelters.

What is Vole?

Voles are small rodents that originated in European and Asian Countries. Voles are from the Cricetidae family. In North America, Voles are popularly called meadow mice or field mice. Voles are the relatives of lemmings and hamsters.

The features of voles are small ears and eyes, a shorter hairy tail, and a slightly rounded head. Voles can live for nearly 12 months, where European water voles can live to their second or third winter.

The Voles are Mammalians. The Phylum of the voles is ‘Chordata.’ The kingdom of voles is Animalia. 21-24 days are the gestation period of Voles.

Depending on features and structures, some of the names of voles are Common voles, California voles, European pine voles, and many others. The length of the Common Vole is 11cm.

The length varies from one Pole to other depending on their structures. The mass of the voles is 20g-220g hanging to their features. There are 124 species. Most species are in the United States.

The Required space for the home is ¼ acre. They can travel 6 miles per hour.

Main Differences Between Chipmunk and Vole

1. Chipmunks are small striped rodents that originated in North America and Europe. In contrast, Voles are small rodents originating in European and Asian countries.
2. Chipmunk and Vole are from the same Kingdom and Phylum, but, Chipmunks is from the Sciuridae family, whereas Voles is from the Cricetidae family.
3. Chipmunk looks like Squirrels, which is called ‘tree squirrel.’ On the other hand, Voles are also known as meadow mice or field mice.
4. The heap of the chipmunks is approximately 50-150g, whereas the mass of the voles is nearly 20-220g.
5. The Life span of Chipmunks is nearly 3-10 years, and the life cycle of Voles is 12 months. The Gestation Period of a Chipmunk is 28-35 days, whereas the Vole’s gestation period is 21-24 days.
6. The travelling period of a Chipmunk is up to 21 miles per hour, whereas Voles can travel 6 miles per hour.

References

1. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/vbz.2007.0111
2. https://aem.asm.org/content/77/16/5716.short
3. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.0030-1299.1999.12698.x