Monday 30 April 2018

Water Voles 2018

Recent studies have shown that water voles in the UK are in even more trouble than previously thought, with a decline of 30% in recent years (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/feb/26/water-vole-areas-england-wales-fall-30-percent-decade).
This is on top of the 90% decline in the proceeding decades: http://www.bbowt.org.uk/what-we-do/protecting-wildlife/water-vole-recovery-project-0

As a result, the water vole hotspots in and around Abingdon are more important than ever.

And fortunately after the very wet spring, there are signs of water vole activity, including what burrows in the river banks:




And cut stems, the distinctive sign of water vole feeding.


And the best sign of all, water vole swimming across the river:



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