The Scottish Government

Friday 30 August 2002 Scottish Wildlife Trust

Last Call for Water Voles?

Surveys Confirm That Time Is Running Out.

Once widespread in wetlands and watercourses throughout Britain, and immortalised by Kenneth Graham as Ratty in The Wind in the Willows, the water vole is now facing its toughest and possibly final battle for survival. Survey work carried out over the last decade has revealed an estimated 85% decline in this species, which if continued would result in its extinction within the next three years.

A combination of loss of habitat and predation from introduced North American mink, whose small size allows it to penetrate water vole burrows, has resulted in the splitting up of family groups to the extent that they are no longer able to maintain viable populations. Unless these twin problems can be urgently addressed then the water vole faces a very bleak future

Recent surveys have revealed that the water vole now appears to be absent along the Union Canal in West Lothian. Scottish Wildlife Trust members have however identified their presence in and around Whitburn and Bathgate mainly on wet grassland and slow flowing burns.

Speaking of the animal's plight, SWT's Conservation Manager for the Lothians, Alan Anderson praised the work that has been undertaken by SWT members and volunteers in West Lothian, adding:

"The water vole has been identified as a priority species in both the UK National Biodiversity Action Plan and in the West Lothian Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP). These plans highlight the threat to this animal and provide political as well as environmental impetus, but the water vole and the places where it lives, can only be saved by work on the ground. In various parts of the country practical conservation activities are slowly gathering pace, but time is short."

Mr Anderson continued:

"Further action to save the water vole may take the form of other priority conservation areas being established. The purpose of these areas will be to increase the population of water voles to viable levels through habitat enhancement and the control of mink. This will probably be the last chance we have to save this shy but endearing animal."

Through in the West of Scotland where the water vole appears in all local biodiversity action plans, Fiona Stewart, Conservation Manager for Glasgow and North Lanarkshire area, said:

"It's amazing - in the Central Belt the water vole population so far appears to be highest in the built-up areas. This may be due to the fact that the areas the water voles inhabit are also well used by humans. It may well be that dog-walkers are keeping mink at bay and that this is helping the water vole."

In Aberdeenshire, a survey commissioned by North East Local Biodiversity Partnership and Scottish Natural Heritage, and undertaken by University of Aberdeen researchers, has found early indications that Aberdeenshire holds substantial and nationally significant populations, but also that these populations are declining rapidly. The aim of the survey was to detect groups of remnant water vole colonies that may be targeted for a North East rescue operation.

However, Xavier Lambin from the University of Aberdeen said that the survey "yielded mixed news for water voles". He said. "The decline is continuing in some areas, although some strongholds still remain, notably in the uplands and at the junction between adjacent watersheds." Nevertheless, it is clear that "water voles are experiencing a catastrophic decline, and populations are now fragmented and small".

Mr. Lambin commented further that changes to the water vole's bankside habitat, resulting from dredging of small burns, were also to blame for Ratty's demise. Astonishingly, even these small burns can still support a healthy population of water voles. In fact, all that these little animals need in terms of habitat is a burn bank which is gently sloping and soft enough to dig, with overhanging ground vegetation for food and shelter. Problems arise when a landowner dredges the burn, perhaps unwittingly disturbing what he thinks to be "black rats", but really destroying a population of this delightful and rare species.

In view of these threats to water voles, the North East Farm Biodiversity Group is urging farmers and landowners to notify them if mink are present on their land and urging caution if they are planning to improve field drainage by dredging a small burn. People living in the Ythan catchment, specifically in the Keithfield Burn and Little Water tributaries area, in the upper reaches of the Dee catchment, and tributaries of the Deveron, should pay special care, as these are the areas where key water vole populations have been identified to date.

Ends

For further information/images and to arrange interviews, please contact Christopher Glen, SWT Acting PR Manager on 07977 229469 or 01324 625941

Notes for editors.

Water voles are typically 15-20 cm long and weigh 200-300g. Because of their size and nickname of "water rat" they are unfortunately often confused with rats, but in reality more closely resemble guinea pigs! Water voles have a chubbier face, short furry ears almost hidden by long glossy, dark, chocolate-brown or black fur, and a shorter tail than rats. Often, the only clue to their presence is the distinctive "plop" sound they make as they dive into the water.

In recognition that the water vole is the fastest declining mammal in the UK this century, it has been declared a UK priority species, with a Biodiversity Species Action Plan (SAP) written by the UK Water Vole Steering Group, which can be found at www.ukbap.org.uk.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust is running an appeal to safeguard the future of the water vole. More information on the appeal can be found on the SWT website at http://www.swt.org.uk/what_we_do/campaigns/voleappeal.asp, where visitors can find out about the many ways in which they can support the Trust's work. An information factsheet is also available at http://www.swt.org.uk/publications/infosheets.asp. Information can also be accessed from enquiries@swt.org