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The Water Vole is the largest of mainland UK’s three vole species, it has undergone a dramatic decline during the 20th Century and is now absent from much of its former range. The decline has been attributed to predation from the introduced American Mink, habitat fragmentation and inappropriate river bank management.

Water Vole

Water Voles are legally protected under the ‘Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981’ and are afforded additional protection under the ‘Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006’ under which local authorities have a legal duty to take into account their conservation needs.
Morelia Ecology has the training and experience to carry out Water Vole surveys in a safe and efficient manner.

Water Vole surveys are conducted between March and September and extend to 2m from the water’s edge. Water Vole surveys are conducted by surveying for;

  • Burrows

  • Runs

  • Feeding signs

  • Droppings

  • Trampled droppings

  • Grazed ‘lawns’

  • Foot prints

The survey report will assess the relative population density (high/medium/low) by analysing the number of dropping piles recorded per 100m of river bank.

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