The water vole lives along rivers, streams and ditches, around ponds and lakes, and in marshes, reedbeds and areas of wet moorland. 0000002985 00000 n Did you see it's super-long tongue? This long-term decline has continued in the last 10 years. Bank voles are common and widespread across the UK. trailer Click here for more information on the Wildlife Trusts National Water vole database and mapping project. For more information download our leaflet on How to manage land for water voles and on Water vole facts. Populations in Sussex are critically low and it is estimated that we have lost over 90% in the last 30 years. 0000034553 00000 n They also have a preference for steep sided banks so that they can tunnel upward in the bank if the water level rises. Water voles live on rivers, canals, ditches, streams, ponds - and almost any kind of wetland. Sensitive, graded cuts on bankside vegetation should encourage female dispersal. 0000000856 00000 n BN5 9SD, © Sussex Wildlife Trust | Registered charity number 207005 | Registered in England, company no.698851. The only remaining large populations of water voles in Sussex are on Chichester Coastal Plain (West Sussex) and on Pett and Rye Levels (East Sussex). Click here for more information on Brighton University research. For more information see our leaflet on. They often live in burrow systems. Very occasionally they eat snails and other invertebrates. Most live for 5 months, some can live for up to 2 winters. Improve habitat networks and connectivity around key water vole populations. Watch this Great Spotted Woodpecker hunting insects living in this dead tree. They leave 'tic tac' sized and shaped piles of droppings around their territories. Cromford Canal, Derbyshire Their favourite nibbles are wetland plants such as rushes, sedges and horsetail. 0000001201 00000 n Outside this area, coastal locations such as grazing marsh ditch networks and brackish borrow dykes are now the main strongholds, but water voles have disappeared from the majority of Essex rivers, with just small pockets of voles present in non-river locations such as … 0000022157 00000 n Scan the ditches around the wetland section of this reserve for black-furred water voles. It is fairly easy to spot water voles if you know what to look for. 0000009050 00000 n 0000006496 00000 n Chris Packham uses a man-made burrow to investigate water voles. to disease) are introduced. The Water vole (Arvicola amphibious) is a semi-aquatic mammal which lives in the banks of rivers and wetlands, or in small nests in fens and reedbeds. Vole tunnels are most visible as snow begins to melt in spring. Contact the Sussex Mammal Group if you would like to get involved with volunteer work on water voles and other Sussex Mammals, or have a look at some of the work being done by the Mammal Society UK. Look out for the signs of water voles, such as burrows in the riverbank, often with a nibbled 'lawn' of grass around the entrance. GB population of 875,000. Here are a few tips :-. In spring they sometimes eat flowers from bramble and hawthorn. 0000001466 00000 n startxref Female water voles appear not to like to pass locations where there are severe changes in habitat. West Sussex, This makes it especially important to keep a safe distance from them in your yard. They also live in reed beds where they will weave ball shaped nests above ground if no suitable banks exist in which to burrow. In Britain, water voles live in burrows excavated within the banks of rivers, ditches, ponds, and streams. 0000026754 00000 n 0000026600 00000 n Development, drainage and general urbanisation of the natural environment. Chris Packham uses a man-made burrow to investigate water voles. How do water voles live? Create suitable habitat on edges of floodplains to provide refuge habitat during floods. 17 0 obj <> endobj The water vole has experienced one of the fastest declines of any native mammal in the 20th century. Water voles live in colonies but string themselves out along a watercourse. 0000000016 00000 n There is a re-introduced population of water voles on the River Arun which has bred with remnant Arun valley populations. Burrows are normally located adjacent to slow moving, calm water which they seem to prefer. Increase the occurrence of bank side trees / hedges / reeds / scrub patches along linear watercourse to provide seasonal food and refuge habitat. They prefer slow flowing water with earth banks, which are not regularly flooded, or areas of lush fen and reedbed where they can make aerial nests to safeguard them from flooding and predators. Water voles are vegetarian (herbivores) and eat over 200 different species of plant. These voles rarely live longer than 12 months. These small, burrowing animals are best known for the harm they cause to turf and landscaping. 0000004205 00000 n In some cases, an experienced local advisor can help you to obtain a ‘licence exemption’ which enables you to carry out sensitive maintenance works at appropriate times of year. 0000048160 00000 n Create non linear wetlands everywhere (vertical habitats such as reedbeds, fens, etc). There may be isolated communities of water voles elsewhere in Sussex but these are small and often genetically unviable populations. Prolonged periods of drought threaten the wetlands and plants that water voles need to survive. xref You can purchase live vole traps and situate them perpendicular to the broadest vole tunnel or near their favorite nesting sites. 0000001369 00000 n 0000023426 00000 n Predators such as mink, rats or cats can predate whole colonies of water vole. Voles only live for about a year. These amiable creatures are sometimes called 'Water rats' (like Ratty in Wind in the Willows). Water voles were formerly widespread and common in England, Wales and Scotland, ranging from Cornwall to the extreme north-east of Scotland. 0000006327 00000 n They are still widespread but have undergone one of the most serious declines of any mammal in Britain. Where do bank voles live? Approach Natural England to see if the Arun valley population can be classed as a national stronghold, for which it definitely qualifies. 0 The first step towards water vole recovery was for Gwent Wildlife Trust to establish a mink control programme to reduce the large mink population, before carefully planning and undertaking the release of over 200 water voles on to the reserve. !U�M#����.��Ћ��J�'� ty�e�� �q�'/&�!J��1�9�|��=RS���TB�dRx J�^�ʍ��_�^3!�(!�~�2��.��4��/*ɳڠ�z�� w���V�e"{�D�� 0000025532 00000 n Where do water voles live. Studies found the water voles were still creating burrow systems and foraging in a similar way to their bank side relatives. 0000005259 00000 n Mink are one of the only predators that can follow water voles into their burrows. Try setting baits in the midday to early evening because that’s the time when voles get more active. For more information on applying for licences for work to study or disturb water voles, click here. In fact, the European water vole can swim up to 50 ft. underwater. In April 2008, water voles became fully protected by law under the Wildlife and Countyside Act (1981) Section 9. The increased legal protection added prohibitions against intentional or reckless killing, taking or injury, possession and sale of water voles, making it an offence to intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct any structure or place which water voles use for shelter and protection, or to disturb a water vole whilst using such a place.

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