The effects of toe clipping on the survival of the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus)

Abstract

A total of 68 pairs of female and 72 pairs of male voles were used to examine the effect of toe clipping on the survival of Microtus pennsylvanicus. Toe clipping did not significantly influence female life-span (average difference in life-span was 0.1 weeks) (p > 0.05), but did lower male life-span (p = 0.07). On average, toe-clipped male voles lived 2.1 weeks less than the controls. We suggest that the difference, although not statistically significant, may be biologically important. Shortening of life-span may have been a result of increased movement by toe-clipped males, brought upon by vole–vole interactions, into unfamiliar, possibly suboptimal habitats where increased mortality may have occurred.