Water voles
The Water vole ( Arvicola terrestris ) is a semi-aquatic mammal.
Water voles are currently the fastest declining native mammal in Britain. Their numbers have fallen by over 90% in twenty years.
These amiable creatures are sometimes called 'Water rats' (like Ratty in Wind in the Willows). Although they are in the same family as rats (rodents), they are not rats, they are voles.
Where Water Voles Live
Water Voles live on rivers, canals, ditches, streams, ponds - and almost any kind of waterway. They prefer slow flowing water with steep earth banks, which are not regularly flooded. They also like luxuriant wetland vegetation (grasses, reeds and sedges) which provides them with food and cover from predators.
Water voles in sussex
The water vole is currently the fastest declining native mammal in Britain and populations in Sussex are critically low.
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). There are also two re-introduced populations of water voles, one on the River Medway and one at Arundel Wildfowl and Wetland Trust. There are isolated communities of water voles elsewhere in Sussex but these are mostly small, fragmented and very vulnerable.
Current conservation status
Water voles are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, Schedule 5. It is an offence to damage, destroy or obstruct access to any structure or place, which water voles use, for shelter and protection and to disturb a water vole while it is using such a place. It is hoped that water voles will soon be fully protected by law.
Water voles are a UK BAP Priority Species and there is a national Species Action Plan (SAP) for its conservation. Sussex also has a Water vole Species Action Plan for the county.
Current Threats
Habitat destruction and fragmentation has isolated populations of water vole so that they are extremely vulnerable to chance extinction events.
• Predators such as mink take advantage of isolated populations and have been known to eat colonies of water vole. Mink are one of the only predators that can follow the water vole down its burrows.
• Prolonged periods of flooding make water voles vulnerable to predators and flush them from their burrows and feeding places.
• Accidental deaths through poisoning, meant for rats can also be a problem.
• Domestic cats and dogs can also kill water voles.
What water voles eat
Water voles are vegetarian (herbivores) and are known to eat over 270 different species of plant. Their favourite nibbles are wetland plants such as rushes, sedges and horsetail.
What eats water voles
Unfortunately many other animals will eat water voles - Cats, dogs, foxes, mink, herons, otters, hawks and owls, pike etc.
