Growth of the bank vole Myodes glareolus in the non-vegetative period in NE Lithuania.

Bank voles (Myodes glareolus) were trapped in north-east Lithuania from October to April in 2004.2008. Investigation of 536 individuals showed that winter growth depression for the species was not strongly expressed, except for the body weight of juveniles in December and January. Only a few skull characters showed stunted growth. The wintering juvenile bank voles attained an average body mass of 14.8 ± 0.07 g and an average body length of 84.3 ± 0.32 mm, while the respective parameters in subadult individuals were 17.0 ± 0.09 g and 86.0 ± 0.37 mm. The successful overwintering of such small bank voles suggests a possible influence of warmer winters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]