Bavarian Pine Vole: Understanding Their Endangered Status

The Bavarian pine vole (Microtus bavaricus) is a tiny vole species native to the Austrian, Italian, and Bavarian Alps in Europe. It was presumed extinct decades ago but was rediscovered in 2004. The species is now considered critically endangered by the IUCN due to the intense management of forests in its limited range. With a length of 98-100 mm and a weight of 18-28 grams, it is challenging to distinguish the Bavarian pine vole from other vole species without genetic or comparative morphological analysis.

The Bavarian pine vole's habitat is disappearing due to logging and cattle grazing

The Bavarian pine vole (Microtus bavaricus) is a tiny rodent species, measuring only 10cm in length and weighing 18-28g. This extremely rare mammal is endemic to the Northern Limestone Alps in Austria and parts of southern Bavaria. It was first discovered in 1962 in the Bavarian town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where a hospital was later built, destroying its habitat. The vole was presumed extinct until it was rediscovered in 2004 by Austrian scientist Friederike Spitzenberger.

Bavarian pine voles live in underground passageways and are herbivores, feeding on roots, grasses and herbs. They play an important role in the ecosystem by dispersing seeds and are a food source for predators. The species is also of scientific interest due to its evolutionary history. It evolved during the last Ice Age when its population was isolated in the Rofan mountains.

The Bavarian pine vole is now listed as "Critically Endangered" by the IUCN. This means it is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. Despite its endangered status, the Bavarian pine vole is not protected. Conservation efforts for this species are still in their early stages, but regular monitoring has been taking place since 2014 in the Rofan mountains.

The Bavarian pine vole's habitat is disappearing due to human activities such as logging and cattle grazing. These activities destroy the vole's underground passageways and food sources, and threaten the already limited remaining forest area. Conservation efforts are needed to protect this critically endangered species from extinction.

The vole's only known habitat was destroyed by the construction of a hospital

The Bavarian pine vole (Microtus bavaricus) is a tiny vole species, measuring only 10cm in length and weighing 18-28g. It is endemic to the Northern Limestone Alps in Austria and parts of southern Bavaria. The species was first discovered in 1962 in the Bavarian town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where 23 individuals were caught in a mousetrap and identified as a new species. Despite a few unconfirmed sightings in Tyrol in the 1970s, no specimens were officially recorded after 1962. In the 1980s, a hospital was built on the only habitat known to be inhabited by the Bavarian pine vole, effectively destroying it.

The vole's only known habitat was located in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria. This area was altered by the construction of a hospital in the 1980s, impacting the vole's survival. The Bavarian pine vole was already considered rare, with a restricted range, due to forest fragmentation. The construction of the hospital further isolated the species and likely contributed to its presumed extinction. After the construction, scientists conducted fruitless searches for the Bavarian pine vole and eventually declared it extinct.

The Bavarian pine vole is a nocturnal herbivore that plays an important ecological role in its habitat. They live in underground passageways and feed on roots, grasses, and herbs. Their dispersal of seeds is crucial for the ecosystem, and they are also a food source for predators. The destruction of their only known habitat by the hospital construction threatened the survival of this already vulnerable species.

The presumed extinction of the Bavarian pine vole highlights the delicate balance between human development and the preservation of natural habitats. The construction of the hospital in the 1980s may have been necessary, but it also underscores the importance of considering the potential impact on endangered species when planning such projects. It serves as a reminder that human activities can have far-reaching consequences for the delicate ecosystems that support a diverse range of species.

Despite being declared extinct, there is a glimmer of hope for the Bavarian pine vole. In 2004, decades after its initial discovery, the species was rediscovered in Austria by Friederike Spitzenberger from the Natural History Museum of Vienna. This rediscovery offers a second chance to protect and conserve this critically endangered mammal. Efforts are now focused on understanding the size and range of the remaining population and implementing measures to safeguard their habitat.

The species is not protected

The Bavarian pine vole is not protected, despite its status as a critically endangered species. This small rodent, measuring only 10cm in length and weighing 18-28g, was presumed extinct for decades before being rediscovered in 2004 by Austrian scientist Friederike Spitzenberger. The vole's only known habitat is in a few hectares of northern Tyrol near the German-Austrian border. This habitat is under threat by logging and cattle grazing, which has cleared much of the wooded area.

The Bavarian pine vole plays an important role in the ecosystem by dispersing seeds, and it is also a food source for predators. Its range has likely always been severely restricted due to forest fragmentation. The species was first discovered in 1962 in the Bavarian town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, but no specimens were recorded after 1962 and the area was built on in the 1980s, destroying its habitat. The vole was presumed extinct until its rediscovery in 2004.

Despite its rediscovery, the Bavarian pine vole remains unprotected. The species is endemic to the Northern Limestone Alps in Austria and parts of southern Bavaria, and it lives in underground passageways, feeding on roots, grasses and herbs. It is genetically distinct from other vole species, such as Liechtenstein's vole (Microtus liechtensteini) from the Eastern Alps.

The Bavarian pine vole is one of the only critically endangered mammals in Europe, along with the European mink and the European hamster. Its survival is precarious, and it is more threatened than iconic species such as the tiger, snow leopard or panda.

The Bavarian pine vole is extremely rare

The Bavarian pine vole (Microtus bavaricus) was rediscovered in 2004 by Austrian scientist Friederike Spitzenberger, who trapped a specimen in Austria. This species is endemic to the Northern Limestone Alps in Austria and parts of southern Bavaria, with the only known population living in a few hectares of northern Tyrol near the German-Austrian border. It is believed that only a few hundred of these voles exist.

The Bavarian pine vole lives in underground passageways and is a nocturnal herbivore, feeding on roots, grasses, and herbs. It plays an important ecological role in seed dispersal and as a food source for predators. The species is critically endangered, facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild, primarily due to habitat disappearance and intense forest management. Its habitat is a montane, mixed open forest with wild streams, which has been cleared for cattle grazing and is now unprotected and under threat from logging.

The Bavarian pine vole is one of the only critically endangered mammals in Europe, alongside the European mink and European hamster. Conservation efforts are in their early stages, with regular monitoring taking place since 2014 in the Rofan mountains, and a few individuals kept for research at the Alpenzoo in Innsbruck.

The species is hard to differentiate from other vole species

The Bavarian pine vole (Microtus bavaricus) is a tiny vole species, measuring only 10cm in length and weighing around 18-28g. It is hard to differentiate from other vole species, such as the Alpine and Liechtenstein's pine vole species. In fact, the only way to accurately distinguish the Bavarian pine vole from other similar species is through genetic or comparative morphological analysis.

The Bavarian pine vole is endemic to the Northern Limestone Alps in Austria and parts of southern Bavaria. It was first discovered in 1962 in the Bavarian town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where 23 individuals were caught in a mousetrap and identified as a new species based on various morphological characteristics. Despite a few unconfirmed sightings in Tyrol in the 1970s, no specimens were officially recorded after 1962, and the species was presumed extinct. This assumption was further supported by the construction of a hospital in the 1980s on the only known habitat of the Bavarian pine vole.

However, in 2000, a population possibly belonging to this species was discovered in Northern Tyrol, just across the German-Austrian border. This discovery sparked hope for the species' survival. The species status was later confirmed by Austrian scientist Friederike Spitzenberger, who stumbled upon the Bavarian pine vole in a live trap. Friederike, from the Natural History Museum of Vienna, had previously found genetic evidence for the presence of the species in the Rofan mountain range.

The Bavarian pine vole is a nocturnal herbivore, feeding on roots, grasses, and herbs. It lives in underground passageways and plays an important ecological role in seed dispersal and as a food source for predators. Despite its rediscovery, the Bavarian pine vole remains critically endangered, with its habitat threatened by activities such as logging and the clearing of land for cattle grazing.

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