Are water voles known for hoarding large stockpiles of fresh summer vegetation?
Answer
No, they rely instead on consistent access to living material until winter conditions dictate a change
Unlike some other rodent species that build up substantial stores of food in preparation for scarcity, the water vole's typical behavior does not include hoarding large caches of fresh summer food underground. Their strategy during the summer is based on consistent, high-volume consumption of currently available green growth. When the environment shifts in winter, forcing them to adopt a diet of roots and bark, their survival hinges on accessing these more durable, hidden food sources rather than relying on supplies they prepared months earlier.
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