Endangered water voles released in London
01/04/2007 00:00:00
Water vole quick facts
- In Greater London the water vole has disappeared from over 72% of the sites it occurred in before 1997. The main cause for its decline has been through the destruction and loss of suitable habitat through intensive river engineering, built development and insensitive land management practises. Elsewhere in the country, and now in London in some places, the decline has been severe due to the spread of American mink, which escaped from fur farms 20 years ago. The mink lives along watercourses and is a supreme predator of water voles as well as other wildlife. It hunts both on the banks and in the water leaving water voles with no escape route.
- The water vole - is one of the main characters (Ratty) in the Children's classic The Wind in the Willows was once a familiar sight on most rivers, canals, ponds and lakes throughout Britain. Water voles prefer to live near rivers, canals ponds and lakes where there are soft earth banks in which they can dig their homes (called burrows) and find lots of natural vegetation for food.
- Confusion with the common rat (which can also live near watercourses) may also have led to local persecution of this harmless vegetarian. Whereas rats have pointed noses, obvious round pink ears and a long scaly-looking tail, water voles in contrast have a blunt face, small brown ears which are mostly hidden under their fur and a hairy tail. Poison intended for rats if not carefully placed can be taken by water voles. There is some evidence to suggest that rat colonies can contribute to water vole decline through aggressive behaviour and predation on baby voles.
- Water voles are not overly sensitive to the presence of people and may be seen during the day in areas where they still survive. You too can help water voles in London by looking out for water voles near you and reporting any signs to the London Wildlife Trust.
July 2006. The London Water Vole Project has conducted a controlled release of the nationally endangered water vole – the UK’s fasting declining mammal - at two nature reserves in London: The
London Wetland Centre in Barnes and Belhus Woods Country Park (BWCP) in the London Borough of Havering. This re-colonisation in London is vital for the survival of this rare mammal. There has been a ninety-five per cent decline in numbers over the last 80 years and the situation is worsening, already there are whole counties where this creature is extinct (especially in the north west and south west of England).
The controlled release of water voles in London was carried out by London Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers, assisted by staff from the nature reserves. A total of 60 water voles were released into specially designed release pens. 40 water voles were released at BWCP and 20 at The
London Wetland Centre. If all goes to plan dispersal routes into and out of the release sites will eventually link up with local colonies. Toni Harrington, who helped with the water voles’ release at BWCP said, ‘The release pens are initially filled with hay as nesting material and food such as apples and carrots to allow the voles a safe and comfortable place to get accustomed to their new surroundings. The pens are then checked daily and topped up with food until the water voles decide to follow their instincts and burrow out of the pens to establish their own territories. This can occur within a day or two’.
London Wildlife Trust’s water vole project manager, Louise Wells said, ‘This release programme helps to recolonise a number of past sites and establish populations at suitable new sites in London. Both of these sites offer good habitat to secure the establishment of water voles and we will be monitoring their progress as part of the project’s ongoing survey programme.’
Based at London Wildlife Trust, the London Water Vole Project, supported by The Environment Agency, British Waterways and Lee Valley Park Authority, aims to conserve the water vole population in London and increase their range and numbers for the benefit of current and future generations.
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