Search Results for: water vole

Water vole surveying by young naturalist Izzy Fry

8th June 2021

Izzy Fry is a 15 year old young naturalist based in Wiltshire. Follow Izzy on Instagram for further updates @izzyfryphotography www.youngnaturalistizzyfry.com

Water voles are disappearing. They started to lose their homes in the 1940s and 50s with the intensification of agriculture, but the most devastating factor to their demise came during the 1980s and 90s. Illegally released American mink spread furiously across the countryside preying on the vulnerable native mammals, and continue to do so today. In just ten years water vole numbers had crashed by almost 90%.

Found along our waterways, water voles are similar-looking to the brown rat, but with a blunt nose, small ears and furry tail! Surveying plays a crucial role in monitoring vole presence/absence, as well as relative abundance, at sites across England, Scotland and Wales on an annual basis so we can detect any changes in their populations and distribution.

Over the past few weeks, I have been chest deep in a freezing cold local river, surveying for signs of water voles! There are 4 main things to look for: burrows, footprints, feeding signs and droppings.

BURROWS:

First of all we found hundreds of burrows! There burrows are generally oval shaped, usually 5-8cm wide, often seen along the water’s edge and bank but with some under the waterline! They often have a ramp/slip outside the burrow, where they slide out!

Burrows at the top of the bank may have a distinctive cropped ‘lawn’ surrounding them where the voles have cut a clear path around the opening!

FOOTPRINTS:

Water voles have star-shaped footprints. Their footprints are similar to a rats, but have a shorter heel and the first and fifth toes are at right angles to the three central toes.

FEEDING SIGNS:

Vegetation nibbled by water vole – Izzy Fry

Diagonally nibbled stalks of grass and leaves in small piles along tunnels in long grass indicate the presence of water voles. However, field voles and bank vole do leave similar feeding signs, so always look for supporting evidence, ideally droppings.

DROPPINGS:

Piles of droppings (latrines) are used as territory markers by females during the breeding season. Water vole droppings are usually 8-10mm long, with virtually no odour. They are particularly distinctive as they are often described as having a tic-tac shape!

We had a fantastic survey with lots of promising signs of voles living on the river! Here are our results:

Sources: Mammal Society, PTES, The Wildlife Trusts

Interested in finding out more about water voles? Visit the water vole area on our species hub for a free downloadable fact sheet and field signs sheet.

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What do Mink do to Water Voles? (hint: it’s not pretty) by Tom Moorhouse – Invasive Species Week

25th May 2021

Tom Moorhouse is a fiction writer. When not writing he works as an ecologist at Oxford University’s Zoology Department. Over the years he has met quite a lot of wildlife. Most of it tried to bite him. He loves hiking up mountains, walking through woods, climbing on rocks and generally being weather-beaten outdoors. Find out more at https://tom-moorhouse.com/ or follow Tom on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authologist/.

I have spent far longer than most people trying to describe what American mink do to water voles. In fact I have written not just one, but multiple books on the subject. (This sounds obsessive even to me. But hey, it’s a living.) And so when presented with the challenge of writing an article on this subject I knew that my moment had come. Finally, my dream assignment!

With no further ado, I give you mink impact from two perspectives. The first is that of a water vole researcher (me) discovering for the first time that his study population might just have a problem…

I arrived at the reserve to a strange emptiness. My traps caught half the number of voles I was expecting. The marsh ditches seemed oddly bereft of feeding sign and latrines. I was puzzled, and suspicious. The place should have been heaving as the late summer swelled water vole numbers but instead they seemed to be dwindling. And when I returned there in September, vole numbers were lower still. Finally, when I picked up a closed trap to find it disconcertingly light, I discovered why. Inside were water vole droppings, and carrot that had clearly been gnawed. The bedding was soaked and sticky. I reached in and pulled some out. It was wet, not with rain, or urine, but with blood. And down the inside of the trap were claw marks, as of a rodent that had been dragged out, scrabbling and fighting for purchase. And further down the dyke, near to a stack of browning feeding sign, I found a small pile of entrails and fur. The fur was instantly recognizable. It had once belonged to a water vole. I stared at these remains for a while before quietly completing my round. I let the remaining voles go with no more measurements or tagging. Then I shut the traps, packed up and told the guys at the reserve that a mink was eating their water voles.[1]

Yes. Look, factual accounts of conservation in action can be off-putting bleak, I admit it. (But oddly the rest of Elegy for a River, the book this quote is from, is actually quite chirpy and funny. Trust me.) So instead let’s explore a fictional viewpoint. How would an invading mink seem to a young water vole in their burrow?

The terror came in the night. It came with swiftness. It came with teeth.

Sylvan awoke with Orris at his shoulder. The burrow was dark and Sylvan was dazed from sleep. He began complaining, muzzily, but Orris silenced him.

“Quiet. Listen,” he hissed.

Sylvan listened. He could hear nothing but their sisters’ breathing and the ever present sound of the Great River. He peered into the darkness but could see nothing. Moments stretched away and Sylvan relaxed. There was nothing out there. Orris had probably had a nightmare or been scared by an owl or something. He was about to say as much when he too caught a faint noise. He strained his senses and it came again. Unmistakably, somewhere in the burrow, something was sniffing. He heard a soft scatter of footfalls. Then more sniffing. Sylvan’s hackles rose.

“It won’t find us. Just keep quiet.”

But even as he spoke, the footfalls came louder than before, from a different tunnel. Sylvan’s heart began to thump. The creature had found the back way that led up to the nest. The sniffing and padding grew louder, more eager, coming closer. Another, brief, silence. Then more steps, just outside the chamber. Then silence. Sylvan could not move, frozen to the spot with fear. Orris was silent but he could feel him shaking. A patch of darkness lightened, resolved itself into the tip of a nose. Sniffing, sniffing, unbelievably loud in the enclosed space.[2]

Terrifying, I hope you’ll agree. These passages are taken from an adult non-fiction and a children’s fiction book, respectively, but both make the same point: that however you dress it, the impact of mink on water voles can only be described as “grizzly extermination”. And that is why mink control is an absolute necessity, underpinning any water vole conservation action.

[1] From Elegy for a River, by Tom Moorhouse, published in 2021 by Doubleday.

[2] From The River Singers, by Tom Moorhouse, published 2013, Oxford University Press.

Water voles: steps towards recovery action plan in Wales

27th December 2020

By Fiona Mathews, Mammal Society Chair and Professor of Environmental Biology, University of Sussex

Sections of this blog appeared in British Wildlife magazine in 2020

The water vole Arvicola amphibius has the unenviable honour of being a leading contender for the title of Britain’s most rapidly declining mammal. Classified as Endangered in England and Wales, and Near Threatened in Scotland, this is a species that needs urgent conservation action. My copy of the 1962 Sunday Times booklet ‘Water Voles’ reads, ‘They are found all over England, North Wales and on the mainland of Scotland…. They abound along many of the waterways of England, and wherever there is good water contained in firm banks, there you may be sure to find signs of water vole habitation’ (Roden Ryder, 1962). Not any more you won’t. By the time the Vincent Wildlife Trust undertook the first national water vole survey in 1989-90, the species was already in decline (Strachan and Jefferies 1993), and the repeat survey in 1996-8 showed that the situation had gone from bad to worse (Strachan et al. 2000). The current population size is estimated at 132,000 individuals (99,000-329,000), and the expectation for the future is one of continued decline (Mathews et al. 2018).

Why is this? The water vole faces a combination of pressures. There are long-term issues of water quality and riparian vegetation management. The poaching of banks by cattle is a major cause of habitat loss; the re-engineering of waterways as part of flood-management strategies has often acted against the interest of water voles; and the relocation of water voles away from development sites to new locations can be complex and less effective than anticipated. Water flows in many rivers also fluctuate more than they did historically, with spates scouring bankside vegetation and flooding burrows. Finally, there is predation. A wide range of species, from herons to otters, can and do eat water voles. The 1962 Water Vole Pamphlet cites the brown rat as by far the most important predator and does not mention at all the American mink — which was only recorded to be breeding in the wild in in 1956. There has been surprisingly little research on the ongoing impact of brown rats on water voles (indeed, our knowledge of brown rats as a whole is so poor it is currently not possible to estimate trends in their abundance, or even put plausible limits around their population size (Mathews et al. 2018)). At least in urban and peri-urban areas, it would be surprising if they had no effect, and there is also an ongoing risk of accidental poisoning from bait intended for rats. In contrast, the major impact of mink is clear. It is also clear that water voles are more vulnerable to predation amidst poor habitat. Having a network of alternative ponds and streams and wetlands, rich with vegetation, rather than a single, poorly vegetated channel is important. Recent work from Poland shows that water voles can persist — even despite the presence of mink — in a network of mid-field ponds adjacent to a river (Brzeziński, 2019). The availability of such habitats was improved owing to the activities of beavers, which leads one to wonder about the possible opportunities that might be created for Britain’s water voles by beaver reintroductions.

Despite the generally dismal picture, there are some notable exceptions where the fortunes of the water vole appear to be turning around. The Scottish Mink Initiative aims to remove mink from around 30,000km² of Scotland. Following a highly successful eradication programme in the Cairngorms National Park, led by Xavier Lambin at the University of Aberdeen, it builds on a detailed understanding of the population ecology of water voles and mink in the area. Huge numbers of local volunteers are using footprint rafts to survey for mink, and are participating in the control programme. In England, Essex Wildlife Trust’s water vole recovery programme, led by Darren Tansley, has used a combination of habitat improvement, targeted mink control, and water vole reintroductions to restore the species to more than 500km². However, most other restoration efforts are much smaller. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, many regions had local water vole and rivers project officers. Sadly, many of those posts were supported only by short-term funding; once local co-ordination disappeared, so did the water voles. As with so much in conservation, restoring the water vole is a marathon, not a sprint, and needs strategic investment over a prolonged period.

We are therefore delighted to be starting a new project in collaboration with Natural Resources Wales leading to an action plan for their recovery. Based on detailed analysis, we aim to direct interventions where they are most likely to deliver the maximum benefits to water vole conservation. We are keen to find out about any current or planned mink control projects going on in Wales, and also to receive any records of mink or water voles (as with all data sent to the Mammal Society, these records will be shared with Local Biological Records Centres).

If you have any information to share, please get in touch with the Society at info@themammalsociety.org or to read more about this project and how you can get involved click here.

Brzeziński M, Jedlikowski J, Komar E. Space use, habitat selection and daily activity of water voles Arvicola amphibius co-occurring with the invasive American mink Neovison vison. Folia Zoologica. 2019 68(1):21-8.

Mathews F, Kubasiewicz LM, Gurnell J, Harrower CA, McDonald RA, Shore RF. 2018. A Review of the Population and Conservation Status of British Mammals. Natural England Joint Publication JP025.

Roden Ryder, S. 1962. Water Voles. Animals of Britain 4. Ed L Harrison Matthews. Sunday Times, London.

Strachan R, Jefferies DJ. 1993. The water vole Arvicola terrestris in Britain 1989-90: Its Distribution and Changing Status. London: The Vincent Wildlife Trust.

Strachan C, Strachan R, Jefferies DJ. 2000. Preliminary Report on the Changes in the Water Vole Population of Britain as Shown by the National Surveys of 1989-1990 and 1996-1998. London: The Vincent Wildlife Trust.

Title slide image by Phillip Braude.

Water Vole Recovery Project Wales

Slide

ENGLISH

CYMRAEG

Water Vole Recovery Project Wales

The Mammal Society have been asked by Natural Resources Wales to carry out research which will enable us to draft a species conservation plan for the country’s water voles.

“Ratty” (c) Christopher Dunn – www.chris-dunn.co.uk

At the turn of the 20th century, when Kenneth Grahame was busy writing The Wind in the Willows, the water voles which inspired the character “Ratty” would have been a common sight on many waterways. Now, however, their numbers have dwindled significantly. So much so, that they are one of the species that is classified as Endangered on the Red List of Britain’s Terrestrial Mammals.

In Wales, there are currently estimated to be approximately 4,500 water voles remaining. This is a decline of 89% since the last review of Britain’s Mammals in 1995. Many of the surviving populations are isolated in the landscape, which makes them even more vulnerable to extinction in the future.

Several factors have contributed to the decline of water voles throughout Britain. The species needs banks into which to dig burrows, and dense vegetation to provide cover and food. The poaching of banks by cattle; the re-engineering of waterways as part of flood-management strategies; and housing and infrastructure developments have all contributed to a loss of suitable habitat. In addition, predation from the non-native American Mink plays a very significant role. While intensive mink control in some regions has been effective, across Wales as a whole, predation remains an important threat. It is interesting to note that in the 1960s, before mink became widespread, rats were considered to be an important threat to water voles, and little is known about their current contribution to water vole declines.

The research

Natural Resources Wales have asked us to carry out a study which will give more insight into why and where numbers are declining and assess where conservation actions might be most effectively deployed. Working with NRW, we will develop an Action Plan for the species’ recovery in Wales.

The project objectives are to determine:

where the priorities are for the future of water vole conservation in Wales;
where the key sites are that are most defendable;
where the key issues are with regards habitat suitability and quality;
where mink control is to be focussed.

Over the next 6 months we will be building models and also consulting with a wide range of experts. Our goal is not just to identify a way to halt the decline but to enable water voles to thrive. To do this we need to gather as much data as we can. This is where you come in.

How you can help

We are calling on walkers, riders, cyclists and even commuters in Wales to tell us where they have spotted not just water voles but also mink and rats. We are interested in both field signs (such as footprints and droppings) as well as records of the animals themselves.

The easiest way to get involved is to download the Mammal Mapper app which will allow you to record one off sightings of mammals (dead or alive) but also to record a route that you have taken and what you have seen along the way.

Click here to find out more/download the Mammal Mapper app.

If you don’t have access to a smart phone you can also use our online form which can be found here.

The Mammal Mapper app contains a handy guide to identifying mammal signs and sightings but you can also refer to our Mammal Hub and field guides for water voles and mink for more detailed information. We’ve included some images below which might be of some help.

Where to look

The best place to look for evidence of water vole and mink presence is along well vegetated banks of slow flowing rivers, ditches, dykes and lakes.

What to look for

Water voles have brown fur and are similar in size to a rat.

Water vole droppings are very distinctive (see photo below) and in occupied areas you may find nibbled stalks of grass in piles along tunnels of tall grass. Water vole bite grass at a 45 degree angle.

For more information on water voles and to download a printable field signs guide click here.

American mink are plain chocolate brown/black fur (black when wet) with a white chin – see photo below. Variable white patches on throat, chest and groin. Fluffy tail about half the length of the body. Similar size to polecat but much smaller than Eurasian otter.

American mink droppings often contain fur and bones. They are twisted, tapered at the ends and are long (6-8cm) – see photo below.

For more information about American mink and to download a printable field signs guide click here.

Brown rats have greyish-brown fur, a prominent pointed muzzle and a long almost naked tail, which is about as long as the head and body – see photo below. Rats are much larger than any mouse but comparable with the much darker, shorter-tailed water vole in general size, though less ‘chubby’ in appearance.

Brown rat droppings are putty-like, usually with a blunt end and a pointed end. They are variable in size, up to 1.7cm in length and 0.6cm wide – see photo below. Blackish-brown in colour and foul, rancid smelling.

For more information about brown rats and to download a printable field signs guide click here.

When Weasels Eat Water Voles

18th June 2020

June 2020 Student of the Month – Victoria Curley

To get in touch: victoria.curley.15@abdn.ac.uk or @VictoriaCurley2

Background

Water voles (Arvicola amphibius) are the largest species of vole in the UK and are our fastest declining mammal. They occupy a variety of habitats from upland moorland to low-lying farmland, though within these areas they are primarily restricted to narrow slow-moving watercourses. They prefer streams with heavily vegetated banks that provide food and shelter, and that have soft substrate suitable for making their burrows. Research suggests that water vole numbers in the UK decreased by 78% between 1989 and 1998 and current population estimates show a further 50% decline (Mathews et al., 2018). The primary threats to water voles are habitat destruction through agricultural intensification, pollution and watercourse developments, and predation by the invasive American mink (Neovison vison). Mink are highly adaptable semi-aquatic predators that are capable of entering the bank-side burrows of water voles (unlike some of their native predators). Having not evolved alongside the American mink, water voles have no natural defences against them, and this has resulted in catastrophic water vole declines. There has been much positive conservation work across the UK for water voles in terms of river restoration and mink control; however, this charismatic rodent is still very much under threat.

Juvenile water vole. Photo by Victoria Curley.

The Assynt water voles and my undergraduate research project

I am a recent Conservation Biology graduate from the University of Aberdeen and for my undergraduate thesis, I was lucky enough to assist in studying the delightful water vole. Since 1998, with support from local landowners, the university have been monitoring water vole populations in the Assynt region of North-west Scotland; studying many aspects of their ecology, population dynamics and disease transmission. These upland water voles are extremely important for the species conservation as populations here are thriving existing beyond the current range of the American mink. Due to the pristine nature of these populations, the Assynt water voles can be used as conservation reference points. Findings relating to their ecology and population dynamics can be used to inform conservation management decisions for water voles elsewhere in the UK.

The focus of my research project was looking at the impact of one of our native predators, the common weasel (Mustela nivalis), on water vole population dynamics. Similar to other water vole populations in the UK, the Assynt water voles exist as lots of small sub-populations. They inhabit suitable grassy patches separated by heather moorland and are connected by the migration of voles between these patches. Such movements are important as each year many sub-populations will naturally go extinct, but dispersing water voles allow the re-colonisation of these patches (called a “rescue effect”). From previous research, it has been observed that extinctions of sub-populations are spatially correlated (Sutherland et al., 2012). If extinction occurs at a patch, then neighbouring patches are also more likely to go extinct due to fewer incoming voles. However, it has also been suggested that the scale of these extinctions could be related to predation by native predators such as weasels. Spatially correlated extinctions have been observed in lowland water vole populations exposed to mink (Telfer et al., 2001); however, the effect of native predators had not yet been studied. Using data from water vole live trapping and from camera traps, I wanted to investigate if the occurrence of weasels was related to the observed patterns of extinction in water vole populations.

Summer fieldwork

Last summer, I joined the university’s Assynt field team for six weeks of fantastic fieldwork. For the first couple of weeks we carried out water vole surveys, looking for signs such as latrines (piles of droppings) and fresh vegetation clippings along the banks of lochs and streams. It was during these surveys I saw my first water vole (something I will never forget), as well as a whole host of other amazing wildlife (including red deer, ospreys, white-tailed sea eagles and black-throated divers). I loved being out in the hills searching for signs of water voles, it felt like I was a wildlife detective! Once we had identified sites where water voles were present, we then left out traps to catch and count the voles. We used Elliot traps baited with carrot and potato and, once caught, tagged and released the voles. We also weighed and sexed them and removed any ticks and fleas for disease studies. This was all done as quickly as possible, to prevent stressing the water voles. I felt really lucky to get some hands on experience with one of our most elusive mammals and was pleasantly surprised by their very different personalities!

An Elliot trap use for live-capture of water voles

Camera trap images

Camera traps were also set at several of our survey sites to catch images of both weasels and water voles. These were extremely useful as they captured images all year round, even when we were not in the field. I spent much time during the winter months analysing these camera trap images and, amongst the thousands of pictures (mostly grass blowing in the wind!) there was a huge variety of species recorded. As well as weasels and water voles, there were images of otters, foxes, badgers, stoats, water shrew and many species of bird. It was quite exciting each day not knowing what I was going to find, and this kept me going through the thousands of images.

Top (left-right): Badger, water vole, red deer. Bottom (left-right): Weasel, fox, otter.

Findings and future work

By analysing the camera trap images, I found some evidence to suggest that weasel occurrence is related to the observed patterns of water vole population extinction. If a weasel was detected at a patch, then there was an increased likelihood that water vole colonies at nearby patches would go extinct. This occurred within the scale of spatially correlated extinctions and could mean that weasel predation is driving these patterns. However, due to the small number of camera traps, this finding was only an indication and could not conclusively prove that weasel predation is contributing to the spatially correlated extinctions. Future work would benefit from the deployment of more cameras across the study area as, although camera traps proved effective in detecting water voles, weasels (with their low population density and large home range sizes) were much more challenging to detect. This was also found in a recent pilot study by the Vincent Wildlife Trust (Croose & Carter, 2019). Greater spatial coverage of camera traps could provide more detections of weasels and therefore more conclusive evidence of their potential role in influencing water vole population dynamics.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed working on all aspects of my honours project thesis and later this summer, I hope to return to Assynt and join this year’s field team (if COVID restrictions allow). In the meantime, during lockdown, I am enjoying the wildlife in my own garden and I am now hooked on camera traps! I am especially loving watching videos of our resident hedgehog. Thank you all for reading my blog, I hope you enjoyed it, and that you are staying safe and making the most of the local wildlife in your area.

References

Croose, E. & Carter, S.P., 2019. A pilot study of a novel method to monitor weasels (Mustela nivalis) and stoats (M. erminea) in Britain. Mammal Communications 5: 6-12, London.

Mathews, F., Kubasiewicz, L.M., Gurnell, J., Harrower, C.A., McDonald, R.A., Shore, R.F., 2018. A Review of the Population and Conservation Status of British Mammals. A report by the Mammal Society under contract to Natural England, Natural Resources Wales and Scottish Natural Heritage. Natural England, Peterborough. ISBN 978-1-78354-494-3.

Sutherland, C., Elston, D.A. and Lambin, X., 2012. Multi‐scale processes in metapopulations: contributions of stage structure, rescue effect, and correlated extinctions. Ecology, 93(11), pp.2465-2473.

Telfer, S., Holt, A., Donaldson, R. and Lambin, X., 2001. Metapopulation processes and persistence in remnant water vole populations. Oikos, 95(1), pp.31-42.

Mammal Week 2019 – Water voles

18th October 2019

Saving Ratty

by Merryl Gelling

Upbeat and endlessly cheerful, one would have thought life for Ratty from Wind in the Willows was an endless whirl of wicker luncheon baskets and carol singers, with little to fear apart from those dastardly stoats and weasels taking over Toad Hall. Not so for the British water vole however. The iconic species upon which Kenneth Graham based his quintessentially British character ‘Ratty’ has fallen on hard times of late. We know the narrative verbatim by now – habitat loss and fragmentation and incessant predation by invasive American mink has catastrophically suppressed water vole numbers nationally, with most recent estimates finding water voles to have been lost in up to 90% of sites within which they were previously found. To reiterate, that is Ninety percent. Nine. Zero. For every ten sites water voles were found in thirty years ago, they are now only found in one.

But really, I mean, who cares? What does it matter? Just how things are now with the environment and stuff, right? Wrong. Have absolutely no doubt that this matters. There are a huge number of individuals and organisations working unrelentingly to ensure that this is not the end of the story, providing a feel-good factor at both a local and national level for projects that are fighting to bring back water voles and to preserve and enhance them where they continue to hang on (read last year’s blog about Seaton Wetlands here). From large-scale, multi-year reintroduction projects to catchment scale projects to link up remnant colonies down to individuals keeping tabs on their local patch, work on the ground is a labour of love for many. And really, what’s not to love? For those lucky enough to catch a glimpse of bright eyes amid glossy russet-brown fur, or to hear the distinctive plop as one makes a quick escape from a perceived threat, there is no question that this is a species to love and cherish, and to protect for many generations to come.

Any walk along a waterway is only improved by finding signs of water voles being in the vicinity – neat piles of cut vegetation feeding signs, each nibbled to a careful 45 degree angle. Piles of droppings left as a calling card to the next passer-by. Burrows and runs pock-marked with star-shaped footprints. If we can’t protect something as endearing as the water vole, knowledge of whose very existence improves the quality of life for uncountable individuals, how on earth can we convince those people not yet engaged with the myriad issues affecting our native wildlife that other, perhaps less charismatic species also have a valid place in our world. Time to turn things around is running out. Fast. But please don’t let the water vole go extinct on our watch. I don’t want to be the one explaining to our children that we didn’t do enough to save Ratty when we had the chance.

Get involved!

We’re currently collecting data about water vole distribution in our project Walk This Water Way. Just use the Mammal Mapper app to record any signs or sightings of these lovely creatures whilst walking at least 600m along a waterway (e.g. river, canal etc). We even have a National Mammal Week competition running right now – simply complete a Walk This Water Way survey for a chance to win a great prize bundle – full details here.

Alternatively, you could support our work by Becoming a Member of the Mammal Society or Donating to us. Our wonderful Chair, Fiona Mathews, is running the Amsterdam Marathon this Sunday to raise much needed money to fund ongoing Mammal Society activities (including monitoring, advising, and providing training), all of which help with the conservation of Britain’s mammals. If you can, please show your support by donating on our Virgin Giving page here.

Go to our National Mammal Week page to find out what’s happening each day this Mammal Week! Make sure you are following #MammalWeek and #MammalsMatter and keeping an eye on our social media feeds for all things Mammal Week related. You wouldn’t want to miss out on our prizes would you?!

Walk This Water Way Wednesday – Water voles!

24th July 2019

**The Water Vole (Arvicola terrestris)**

The water vole is a rat-sized semi-aquatic mammal with dark chestnut-brown fur, short rounded ears and a hair-covered tail, half the length of the head and body. The water vole is native and found throughout Britain.

Water voles have undergone a long term decline in Britain, disappearing from 94% of their former sites (Figure 1). They are predated upon by the invasive American mink, as well as this habitat degradation and pollution are also thought to have contributed to the decline of the water vole. Predator exclusion, bank side management, and pollution control provide viable tools for sustainting local populations.

Figure 1. Water vole distribution across the UK (green). (Mathews et al. 2018)

You can help us to monitor water vole populations by downloading the Mammal Mapper App and participating in our latest project “Walk This Water Way”. All you have to do is walk at least 600m of waterway and record your sightings in the app. You’ll need to enter the Survey ID as WTWW.

Need a nudge to get out surveying? How about if we tell you that the first 50 people to submit 5 or more surveys will receive some lovely photos of our target species and a Mammal Society pin badge! If that’s not enough, then the user who logs the most surveys with the survey ID WTWW will get a prize bundle! We even have a separate prize bundle for the user who logs the most surveys in the UK, and the user who logs the most just in Sussex! So, what are you waiting for? Download the Mammal Mapper App and get recording!

More information about Walk This Water Way can be found here.

Fun Facts!

Water voles eat 80% of their own body weight a day to survive.
Water voles eat over 200 different species of plant.
To try and avoid predation, water voles jump into water and kick mud into the faces of their predators.
They are very territorial animals and the average territory size for a breeding female is 150m.
Baby water voles are born blind and hairless.

Water Vole Ecology, Mitigation and Live-Capture Techniques for Practitioners – Online

Please note the ‘classroom’ side of this course is now online, we are investigating running the in-person side of this course late 2022 or in 2023.

This course, led by Merryl Gelling, is aimed at professionals, and assumes some prior experience of water vole ecology. The course will cover field-signs of water voles and other easily-confused species, legislation, different types of mitigation and when each is suitable by working through a series of case studies and discussing potential solutions to each. All discussions will reference scientific research and how it feeds into mitigation practice today.

Finally, we will discuss the implications of live-capture, transportation and maintaining water voles in captivity as well as considerations for effective re-establishment of water voles, including habitat requirements, mink control and welfare considerations of water voles.

The course will be run by Dr Merryl Gelling – Merryl is the Director of Spires Ecology and sits on the Mammal Society Council. She has studied and worked with water voles for over twenty years, recently completed research into the efficacy of displacement on water voles.

A CPD certificate will be sent after the course.

Date:

This course will be held on Zoom for the foreseeable future.

Our next Water Vole Ecology, Mitigation and Live-Capture Techniques for Practitioners Course will be held on the 14th of October 2022.

To book tickets please click here.

Location:

Zoom

Prices:

Online;

Student £45
Member £70
Non member £90

For terms and booking conditions please click here.

If you have any queries please contact training@themammalsociety.org.

Search Results for: water vole

By Fiona Mathews, Mammal Society Chair and Professor of Environmental Biology, University of Sussex

Water Vole Recovery Project Wales

The research

How you can help

Where to look

What to look for

June 2020 Student of the Month – Victoria Curley

Background

The Assynt water voles and my undergraduate research project

Summer fieldwork

Camera trap images

Findings and future work

Saving Ratty

by Merryl Gelling

Get involved!

The Water Vole (Arvicola terrestris)

Fun Facts!

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**The Water Vole (Arvicola terrestris)**