Water vole
26 April 2010
The water vole, appearing as ‘Ratty’ in ‘Wind in the Willows’, has undergone a massive decline in recent decades, disappearing from over 90% of the places it formerly occurred. This is partly because of habitat loss, but predation by the introduced American mink has had a devastating impact in many areas.
Water vole (c) Jon Traill
Latin name: Arvicola amphibius, although known as Arvicola terrestris until very recently.
Population numbers:
No accurate figures exist although it is estimated that there are about half a million water voles in England. Vole numbers vary a lot between years, depending on breeding success.
Where to see and when:
Water voles can be found along the banks of lakes, ponds, canals and slow-flowing rivers wherever the banks are suitable for burrow and there is vegetation to eat. They are now patchily distributed, with the strongest populations in the north Midlands, parts of East Anglia and parts of southern England. Where they are present, water voles can be easy to see as they are active during the day.
What’s being done:
Conservation work for the water vole has concentrated on protecting remaining strong populations, maintaining and improving bankside habitats and controlling the American mink.
More information:
Species action plan
(UK Biodiversity Action Plan)Arkive
(images of life on Earth)
