Oh and I am in Ontario, Canada

Thoughts on chipmunk?

To me the tail seems too short to be a mouse or rat. You could bring the nest in to your local SPCA Wildlife Center and maybe they could tell you.

Newborn vole?

Are they alive? Might watch for the mother to return. Mole, chipmunk, Fox squirrel, ground squirrel, voles, hard to know that tiny.

I guess vole too.

Showed dh the pics I took and he said vole too. Yes they are all alive. I'm moving the nest tomorrow though to just outside the garden and hopefully that will get her to take her babies elsewhere. I thought it might be the babies of the chipmunk that has dug extensive holes all underneath our deck but definitely think it's the vole now.

Thank you all.

Google can be very helpful. Baby vole images are everywhere!

That looks very much like a squirrel (by the shape of its head). However, you did not say for certain, but I got the impression that the nest was found near or on the ground. That would rule out tree squirrels. Squirrels are usually birthed in a tree nest or inside a building.

New born rats and squirrels have similar appearance. Both do not have fur and both have naked tails. Ground hogs (wood chuck) and chipmunks have their babies in nests in burrows.

Groundhogs do eat selected garden plants. They have a habit of eating only a portion of the plant, a few inches of it starting at about 3 inches above ground level. Groundhogs love sweet peas vines.

What is your geographical location and was this nest on the ground?

When I first replied to this post, I had not read all the responses - sorry. Now, I see one picture showing size. I believe its in the mouse/rat family. Photos of voles do fit, however, voles live in burrows and that's where I'd expect them to bear their young.

I think vole too. And in a few days they will have their coat, and be shiny and fat and sassy and adorable. And chickens will still eat them with delight if they find a nest either way! Most rodents we have seen don't seem to have their babies in a burrow, but rather a shallow nest covered in grasses etc. or under boards etc.

Hmm, I thought I responded to this thread this morning, how odd. Anyway, thank you everyone. After the suggestion of vole a lightbulb went off and the picture confirmed that's what it was. We have ample meadow voles around here. The chickens do not do a good enough job of getting the ones in the barn. I think the water buckets do a better job when they climb in there for some reason. I can't even guess how many we've found that way. These guys were in the garden though which is fenced. They are not getting to stay there though. I'm moving the nest today to just outside the garden and mama should hear them and hopefully move them to a new nest. If mama wants a buffet in my garden she is going to have to work for it. I've already lost 3 pepper plants (ok one was from my goat) and a broccoli. They weren't from seed either.

I knew it wasn't a mouse or rat because of the tail. Same thing about the red squirrel who takes up residence around the house and in the soffit (tried everything with that one). I hadn't even though of a vole and we have loads of them, but sure that's what it is now.

Just checked on the nest. Mom must have moved her babies last night. You watch, she probably just picked another spot somewhere else in the garden. LOL

here is a pic of a baby vole

Joann - that's a super duper newborn. The skin is still translucent and look at all those blood vessels.