Voles are herbivores that feed on a variety of plants, including grasses, tree bark, roots, tubers, bulbs, and vegetable crops. They are active day and night, year-round, with peak activity occurring at dawn and dusk. During times when plant food is scarce, voles may eat small insects or the remains of dead animals. Voles are also known to store seeds and other plant matter in underground chambers. They may cause extensive damage to orchards, ornamentals, and tree plantings by gnawing on the bark of seedlings and mature trees, eating crops outright, and building extensive runway and tunnel systems through crop fields. Voles are an important part of the food chain, serving as prey for many predators such as hawks, owls, snakes, weasels, raccoons, foxes, opossums, and house cats.