water voles

• water vole - arvicola amphibious
• britain's most endangered mammal
• 95% have gone from their previous habitats
• some of the main reasons are: loss of habitat, changes in land management, and predation by the north American Minx
• semi-aquatic rodents
• size = 14-22cm (not including tail)
• weight = 140-150g
• strong swimmers and have water repelent fur, small ears, blunt muzzle and a hairy tail
• the live in colonies made by breeding females
• females have 2-5 litters annually

since April 1998 the water vole has recieved legal protection through its inclusion in:

• schedule 5 of the wildlife and countryside act 1981 in respect to section 9(4) only
• this means that it is a offence to perpously damage or destroy places which water voles use for shelter and to desturb water voles while they are there

UKBAP:

• they have their own species action plan
• usually means that there are efforts to restore habitats and populations
• raise awareness of the conservation issues associated with the water vole

• typically prefer riparian zone habitat with dense patches of grasses, rushes, sedges and reeds
• they are almost entirely vegetarian feeding of the vegetation in or around the waters edge
• steep bank profiles are preferre as they offer opportunities to create extensive burrow systems
• when they can't burrow they make shelters out of the vegetatiopn
• do not like salt water so avoids estuaries, saltmarches and areas prone to prolonged flooding
• some indicators that they are there are: plant stems cut at 45 degrees, burrows and lavatory sites

• degradation of river bank habitats
• intensive engineering and bank protection work
• severe mowing/strimming
• heavy grazzing from livestock
• population fragmentation
• changes in water level - land drainages, flood control
• predation by American Minx

like:

• slow-flowing water
• little or no water level change
• deepish water

dislikes:

• fast-flowing water
• very shallow water
• watercourse drying up
• prolonged floods

food:

• meadowsweet
• willowherb
• nettles