Water voles – National Mammal Week

Water voles are Britain’s fastest declining mammals and are threatened with extinction. The North Pennines National Landscape is still home to water voles, in the upper reaches of our rivers. Even though these upland streams were not traditionally considered ideal water vole habitat, these animals have done well in these higher areas. Our streams here may even be safer havens away from the spread of mink and habitat loss in the lowlands.

You may not spot these elusive mammals out in the countryside, but where the habitat is right, you can often see evidence of them. Water voles need water to escape from predators, places to hide, vegetation to eat, and well-connected areas of suitable habitat. They prefer water at least 15cm deep to drop into and swim away. Lots of upland streams, rivers and ditches are suitable, but if they don’t hold water all year round, you’re unlikely to find water voles living there.

Water vole tracks can be a good feature to look for if there is sufficiently smooth mud for good prints, but without care they can easily be confused with rat tracks. An unmistakeable sign of water vole activity is the presence of droppings, often several together in latrines which mark their territory. Droppings are about 12mm long with rounded ends and smell of mown grass or are odourless. Latrines are commonly found on flat rocks in the stream or flat areas of mud and moss beneath overhanging banks.

If you spot droppings, chances are there’s a burrow nearby. Look out for nibbled grass and rushes, usually nibbled at a 45-degree angle. The area around a burrow will be well-grazed, almost like a small lawn. Listen out for a characteristic ‘plop’ as they drop into the river or stream, or watch for ripples on the surface of the water. Your best chance of seeing one will be from a distance as they don’t like to be disturbed. Keep your binoculars focused on the banks and you might just be lucky.

If you do spot a water vole, don’t forget to record your sighting on iNaturalist or iRecord.

#NationalMammalWeek

Water vole image (c) David Gibbons from our publication Water voles in the North Pennines