Management, breeding, and reproductive performance of pine voles.

Pine voles (Microtus pinetorum) serve as an interesting rodent model for studies of fossorial adaptation and mammalian mating systems. They are unusual among rodents in displaying a cooperative system of breeding. Here we describe the management of a breeding colony of pine voles. This species is relatively easy to maintain in the laboratory, although care must be taken to provide sufficient water in their diet. Details of reproduction, as well as growth and development of the young, are included. Pine voles have a smaller litter size (2.3 +/- 0.9 pups at birth) than do other arvicoline rodents but are still prolific breeders, producing, on average, a litter per month for more than 12 months. These rodents are useful for comparison with other arvicoline rodents, as well as providing an opportunity to investigate the behavior, physiology, and reproduction of an easily managed cooperatively breeding mammal.