The European snow vole is native to mountainous parts of southern and eastern Europe and southwestern Asia.

[3] The European snow vole has soft, long, dense fur that is pale grey tinged with brown.

It has a rounded nose, black beady eyes, long whitish whiskers and moderately large ears.

[2] In Asia it is native to mountainous parts of the Caucasus, Lebanon, Syria, western and northern Iran and southern Turkmenistan.

[1] It lives mainly above the tree line on and among rocks and scree in alpine meadows, on boulder-covered slopes, in crevices in rocks and in areas with dwarf mountain pines (Pinus mugo), alpine rose (Rhododendron ferrugineum) and scrubby vegetation.

In France it is present at lower elevations in some karst regions such as near Glun, in the Ardèche department and near Nîmes.

[4] This vole is considered to be a glacial relict species and since the retreat of the most recent glaciation, suitable habitat became fragmented.

The researchers showed that reproductive females and juveniles preferentially used the central parts of scree areas, especially in the vicinity of scree junipers (Juniperus communis), whereas males and non-reproductive females were less discriminating and occupied rocky habitat in proportion to its availability.

It feeds on the green parts of plants, grasses, buds, shoots and roots, and may sometimes eat insects and their larvae.

This is because, despite its rather fragmented range, it is common in some suitable habitats, its population trend seems stable and it does not seem to be facing any particular threats.