Water voles
The Water vole ( Arvicola terrestris ) is a semi-aquatic mammal.
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.
water vole. photo Dave Green
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 need luxuriant wetland vegetation (grasses, reeds and sedges) which provides them with food and cover from predators.
Water voles in sussex
The water vole has experienced one of the fastest declines of any native mammal in the 20th centuary. Populations in Sussex are critically low and it is estimated that we have lost over 90% of water voles in the last 30 years.
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
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, pocssession and sale of water voles, onto exsiting protection making it an offence to intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to any structure or place which water voles use for shelter and protection, or to distrub a water vole whilst using such a place.
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
The destruction and fragmentation of wetland habitats 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.
- Prolonged periods of drought threaten the wetlands and plants that water voles need to survive.
- 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 27 different species of plant. Their favourite nibbles are wetland plants such as rushes, sedges and horsetail. In the winter they sometimes eat the bark of willow and hawthorn trees.
What eats water voles
Unfortunately many other animals will eat water voles - Cats, dogs, foxes, mink, herons, otters, hawks and owls, pike and so on.
