| Water vole - Arvicola terrestris - Family: Cricetidae
 Water vole - Arvicola terrestris© Bob GibbonsThe attractive water vole has a rounded body and a rich brown coat which may be paler and greyer underneath. Although also known as the water rat, this is a very different looking animal from a brown rat. Its ears are small and almost hidden in the thick fur, it has a blunt face and nose and a short furry tail. Brown rats have prominent ears, the fur on their backs tends to be more grey than that of voles, their noses are quite pointed and their tails are far longer and rather scaly. The water vole may be heard as it plops back into the water when you walk along the bank of a stream, although these days such encounters are all too rare. Water voles were once common enough in small streams and canals all over Britain. In recent years, however, their numbers have suffered a catastrophic decline. There are various reasons for this but the most important factor has been the spread of American mink, against which water voles are defenceless: mink can hunt them both on land and in the water. Mink themselves seem sensitive to human disturbance or it may be that they are just very wary of the dogs which so often accompany people in their strolls along water courses, and are uncommon in urban areas. Towns and cities, therefore, have become among the last strongholds of the water vole in England. There is hope, however, as the native otter is recovering in numbers and extending its range to the eastern and southern counties from which it was lost in the 1970s and 1980s, probably as a result of pesticides. Mink will shun otters but otters do not prey on water voles, so the otter may yet prove the saviour of 'Ratty' of the Wind in the Willows. If your garden is near a clean stream, ditch or canal with plenty of marginal vegetation, you might just get a visit from this very attractive animal. FoodLargely vegetarian, feeding on waterside grasses, sedges, roots and other plants, as well as root crops, bulbs. Beech mast and acorns may be stored. They occasionally eat small fish and aquatic invertebrates including freshwater mussels. PlantsAmphibious bistort, Bulrush, Common water-starwort, Water-cress, Yellow loosestrife, Zigzag clover PreySlugs and snails, Small fish PredatorsBuzzard, Grass snake, Grey heron, Little owl, Stoat, Tawny owl, Weasel |
