[5] Plant species commonly found in areas occupied by northern red-backed voles include black spruce (Picea mariana), white spruce (Picea glauca), quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), paper birch (Betula papyrifera), alder (Alnus spp.

[7] In dense populations of northern red-backed voles, sexual maturation of young females may be delayed, or they may migrate to a vacant breeding space.

[8] Northern red-backed voles are mainly nocturnal and crepuscular, but remain active whenever necessary during the prolonged arctic daylight season.

[2] Northern red-backed voles are active all winter and construct long tunnels under the snow.

[2] Northern red-backed voles inhabit areas that contain dense ground cover for protection from weather and predation.

[5][9] On the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in south-central Alaska, the presence of northern red-backed voles was positively correlated with protective cover.

[6] During the winter, northern red-backed voles use layers of thick moss or matted vegetation as thermal cover.

[2][5][6] Berries are generally the major food item in the diet of northern red-backed voles and are eaten whenever available.

In central Alaska, West [5] found that northern red-backed voles relied heavily upon the fruits of several berry-producing plants during all seasons.

The mid- to late summer diet of northern red-backed voles also included a large proportion of mosses, although berries were still the primary food.

[5] Northern red-backed voles on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge fed during the summer on berries of species such as mountain cranberry and bunchberry.

[6] Some predators of northern red-backed voles include American marten (Martes americana), Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), raccoon (Procyon lotor), stoat (Mustela erminea), snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus), coyote (Canis latrans),[9][11][12] and probably most other predators of small mammals that occur within the range of northern red-backed voles.