Aaron Johnson, age 10, of Duluth, Minn., for his question:

 WHAT ARE VOLES?

The voles are not related to the moles, though some of them live in shallow burrows. They are mousy little creatures related to the lemmings. One of the voles is the timid fellow we call a field mouse. Other voles live by streams. Others climb bushes and bring up their babies in deserted bird nests. All voles have ravenous appetites and often eat their own weight in food every day. Their favorite food is grassy vegetation, plus insects and bits of dead meat.