Rodentia general fact sheet click to download field sign fact sheet click to download habitat. The water vole has chestnutbrown fur, a blunt, rounded nose, small ears, and a furry tail. The third edition of the water vole conservation handbook was published in 2011 and in 2016 the mammal society published the water vole mitigation handbook. Download our free guide and find out which agrienvironment schemes are water vole friendly. The first in a new series of practitioner guidance from the mammal society, it provides the evidence base for informed decisionmaking by ecological consultants, planners. About water voles find out more about the life of a water vole.
In preroman times, the water vole was actually britains commonest small mammal. The first in a new series of practitioner guidance from the mammal society, it provides the evidence base for informed decisionmaking by ecological consultants, planners, competent. In 1998, there were estimated to be only 875,000 individuals. The vincent wildlife trusts 198990 national water vole survey recorded water voles at a single site on the river bude although no latrines piles of droppings developed as territorial markers were found. Apr 26, 2016 the mammal society published a new water vole mitigation handbook in march 2016 and we have just recieved a copy of the guide. Case study public involvement in the conservation of tiritiri matangi island, new zealand, 145 case study global rivers environmental education network. The european water vole arvicola amphibius is of high conservation importance in the united kingdom due to its documented decline in both. Back to handbook of water use and conservation this comprehensive handbook for water professionals contains hundreds of water efficiency technologies and practices for residential, landscape, industrial, commercial, institutional, and agricultural customers. National water vole database and mapping project 20052015 fig. Minks blamed as water vole extinct in the southwest the. He oversaw numerous research projects on water voles during his time with oxford universitys wildlife conservation research unit, and wrote the first edition of the water vole conservation handbook, which was published in 1998. This model predicted that water vole occupancy increased with increasing distance to water, although the relationship at distances greater than 500 m was based on a small sample size at these distances, hence wide confidence intervals table 2, fig.
Genetic structure of regional water vole populations and. National water vole database and mapping project by hiwwt. The water vole is britains fastest declining mammal, disappearing from 70% of known sites in only seven years between national surveys in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Captive breeding water voles it is against this background that water vole restoration utilising either translocated animals or captive bred offspring has become an identified component of the species recovery, as recommended in the 3rd water vole conservation handbook strachan et all, 2011. By minimising your use of water and avoiding wasting water you can help to keep rattys natural habitats wet and water vole friendly. Licence to displace water voles for development works. The effect of using displacement to encourage the movement of water voles arvicola amphibius in. Traditional survey methods rely upon the recording of field signs indicative of the presence of water voles, as described in the water vole conservation handbook strachan et. Water voles have rounder noses than rats, deep brown fur, chubby faces and short fuzzy ears. Water vole conservation in conjunction with the warwickshire wildlife trust our club has been assisting in controlling the water vole s main predator, the american mink. The environmental records centre for cornwall and the isles of scilly has compiled a list of water vole records dating back to the 1960s. Ensured information on water vole conservation requirements and appropriate habitat management was available to all riparian owners, managers and advisers, through various technical guidance notes and the water vole conservation handbook. Mink are the water voles major predator and are highly mobile. This publication was intended as a guide based on perceived best practice at the time.
Water voles numbers are declining and are considered a species of importance in england, scotland and wales. The water vole is a popular animal, the chunky aquatic vegetarian immortalised as ratty in kenneth grahames the wind in the willows, but it has been all but wiped out by a small but deadly. London water vole project greenspace information for greater. Water voles are nationally protected as one of britains most endangered wild mammals. They held on in low numbers but by 2010 were probably present at only one or two locations. Reintroductions as an essential conservation tool for. Captive breeding water voles it is against this background that water vole restoration utilising either translocated animals or captive bred offspring has become an identified component of the species recovery, as recommended in the 3rd water vole conservation handbook strachan et. Water vole records made by the rutland natural history society rnhs showed that they were quite commonly seen in the 1960s and in the area now covered by rutland water, but the number seen in rutland had declined seriously between 1965 and 1976 fig. Water vole conservation handbook download ebook pdf. Schedule 5 of this act makes it an offence to intentionally damage or obstruct access to water vole burrows.
Water voles were formerly widespread and common in england, wales and. The mammal society water vole mitigation handbook is now. Occupancy was greatest in parkland followed by sites with rank vegetation and roadside habitats. Nhbs rob strachan, tom moorhouse and merryl gelling, wild cru. Protected in the uk under the wildlife and countryside act, 1981. The latter is aimed at promoting best practice in undertaking surveys and designing and implementing water vole mitigation measures. Priority species under the uk post2010 biodiversity framework. Water voles are fully protected under section 9 of the wildlife and countryside act 1981 as amended. Reedbeds are considered a priority habitat for water vole conservation. Water vole conservation handbook, third edition wildcru. The water vole is under serious threat from habitat loss and predation by the nonnative american mink. Download water vole conservation handbook or read online books in pdf, epub, tuebl, and mobi format. Water vole conservation handbook rob strachan, tom. New water vole mitigation guidelines for development and.
You can read online water vole conservation handbook here in pdf, epub, mobi or docx formats. Ensure that development schemes do not affect the integrity of water vole populations. Traditional survey methods rely upon the recording of field signs indicative of the presence of water voles, as described in the water vole conservation handbook strachan et al. Water vole conservation handbook, second edition request pdf. Dominant vegetation types as a tool for conservation of water voles. The mammal societys water vole mitigation handbook is now available to purchase as a paperback from nhbs.
Learn more about water voles, our current conservation work to save them and how you can become a voleunteer with us by following the links below. Buy water vole conservation handbook by rob strachan from waterstones today. Voles have slow, doggypaddle style swimming strokes which are a treasured sight on our canals and rivers. Conservation strategies for this species include protecting source populations, increasing habitat availability and connectivity, nonnative predator control and reintroduction. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. As such, they are protected under uk wildlife conservation legislation, making them of material consideration in the determining of planning applications. Water voles, once a common sight on our lakes, are the fastest declining native mammal in britain.
Buy water vole conservation handbook 9780954637651. Water vole conservation handbook, 2006 introduction the publication in 2006 of the revised edition of the water vole conservation handbook strachan and moorhouse 2006 provided a valuable update on aspects of the species ecology and conservation. An important consideration when implementing species management is preserving genetic variation, which is fundamental to the longterm persistence of populations and adaptive potential of the species. The mammal society published a new water vole mitigation handbook in march 2016 and we have just recieved a copy of the guide. Feasibility study for the reintroduction of the water vole.
More guidance on translocations can be found in the water vole mitigation handbook. He oversaw numerous research projects on water voles during his time with oxford universitys wildlife. Learn more about water voles, our current conservation work to save them and how you can become a vole unteer with us by following the links below. In 1998 there were estimated to be only 875,000 individuals. The similar brown rat is larger, with greybrown fur, a pointed nose, large ears that protrude from its fur, and a long, scaly tail. The water vole mitigation handbook, endorsed by the water vole steering group and cieem, provides the latest guidance on mitigating the effects of development on water voles.
As water voles are only partially protected in scotland, its not an offence to possess water voles or parts of water voles. Water vole conservation handbook by rob strachan waterstones. Minks blamed as water vole extinct in the southwest. Here we provide an overview of the background to the guidelines as well as the key recommendations within them. Urban grasslands support threatened water voles journal of. Water voles arvicola amphibious live in and amongst watercourses throughout the united kingdom, they can be found most commonly along rivers, streams, and ditches, but have also been found in and around ponds, lakes and even canals. The plight of the water vole, its biology and conservation has been brought to many dif different.
Change in distribution of water vole over time occupied 10km squares are shown in green. Case study public involvement in the conservation of tiritiri matangi island, new zealand, 145 case study global rivers environmental education network green, 146 9. Any reintroduction programme will by necessity need to include some measure of mink identification and control. This document replaces those sections in the water vole conservation handbook that refer to developments and licensing. Reintroductions as an essential conservation tool for water. Water vole mitigation guidance important updates for evidencebased good practice. Enlarge and expand conservation projects to protect and enhance water vole populations at a landscapescale, to help water vole populations recover. Incorporate water vole conservation into relevant habitat policies and agrienvironment schemes. Water vole conservation handbook download ebook pdf, epub. Wildlife conservation research unit, university of oxford, 2006 arvicola pages. The network of expert volunteer recorders is critical to water vole. The water vole is a popular animal, the chunky aquatic vegetarian immortalised as ratty in kenneth grahames the wind in the willows, but it has been all. Mar 18, 2020 the european water vole arvicola amphibius is of high conservation importance in the united kingdom due to its documented decline in both distribution and abundance.
Request pdf on jan 1, 2006, rob strachan and others published water vole conservation handbook, second edition find, read and cite all the research. Water voles inspired the cuddly character ratty in the childrens book the wind in the willows and our european water voles are particularly unique, being the only water vole that are actually dependant on living near water. Water vole reintroduction projects the lessons and the success factors. Click download or read online button to get water vole conservation handbook book now. As well as the above, i was privileged to be in a position to set up and help find funding for numerous. New water vole mitigation handbook ecology by design. Captive breeding as a recovery component of water vole arvicola terrestris conservation projects. Conservation research unit, and wrote the first edition of. The water vole mitigation handbook sussex wildlife trust. Scotlands water voles often appear darker, with many having a black coat. Water vole spotters should look out for closely grazed lawn areas, often covered with neat piles of chopped grass, which are often seen around burrow entrances. The survey was conducted in accord with the water vole conservation handbook strachen 2006 and entailed walking upstream, within the water channel, and searching the margins and banks for field signs, comprising any combination of the following. Water voles arvicola amphibius are one of the uks fastest declining wild mammals and listed as a species of principal importance for the conservation of biodiversity in england, scotland and wales.
Nature conservancy council 1990 handbook for phase 1 habitat suivey. Found along our waterways, it is similarlooking to the brown rat, but with a blunt nose, small ears and furry tail. The information that you provide will be held by peoples trust. The water vole arvicola amphibious provides a vivid illustration of the process of conservation research, from the initial discovery that a species is declining, through diagnostic research into the causes, then development and testing of solutions, to the production and implementation of a strategy for the species recovery. The european water vole or northern water vole arvicola amphibius, included in synonymy. Back to handbook of water use and conservation this comprehensive handbook for water professionals contains hundreds of waterefficiency technologies and practices for residential, landscape, industrial, commercial, institutional, and agricultural customers. The best advice from nrw is for the developer to consult the water vole mitigation handbook in all situations. Enlarge and expand conservation projects to protect and enhance water vole populations at a landscapescale, to help water vole populations recover and reoccupy their former range and distribution monitor water voles continue to monitor water vole populations and invest further in volunteers to help survey. Protected species licence for survey, research or conservation work a29. Sadly the water vole is britains fastest declining mammal. Water vole species action plan worcestershire county council. Water voles and licensing scottish natural heritage. It is often informally called the water rat, though it only superficially resembles a true rat.
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