Wonderful Water Voles

Well happy Saturday to you all! The weather improved slightly today after all the rain of the past week and I was so glad of the brief reprieve as I was off out to Mickell Trafford today on some Water Vole Training and Surveying with the Cheshire Wildlife Trust. The training was great, delivered by their Water Vole Project Officer who is hoping to do some indepth surveying on the River Gowy and Weaver between now and October. Apparently the best time to survey is around June when the vegetation isnt too high so you cant see any signs of Water Vole.

Looking for feeding sites and latrines

So some interesting facts I learnt today...

There has been a gradual decline in Water Vole numbers since the Iron Age in Britain but particularly so follwing the Romans (introduction of towns, roads etc) and WW1.

Main reasons for decline: agricultural intensification, reduction of habitat (agriculture and river diverting for flood protection etc) and introduction of American Mink.

The British Water Vole apparently is the only vole that swims / lives around the water, their european relatives have not adapted to water like British Water Voles, and its believed to be a behavioural response to predation, they dont have any special adaptations to be in water (no webbed feet for example) and actually would drown in water if unable to get out after a relatively short time.

They need to eat between 80% and 90% of their total body weight each day!

There was a lot more I learnt but it would fill pages! The second bit of learning was how to survey and then after lunch we headed out to Hockenhall Platts to look for Water Vole. We didnt see any as the river was very high after all the rain, but we did see feeding stations and we did hear one eating (I cant believe how loud it was). We saw a latrine site on the other side of the bank with the help of binoculars. We also saw lots of Field Vole latrines and feeding stations along with rat burrows.

It was a great day and I'm keen to get out and do some surveys and spot a few more Ratties!

Water Vole Feeding Site