What group is a water vole in?
What group is a water vole in?
Mammalia
| European water vole | |
|---|---|
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Cricetidae |
| Subfamily: | Arvicolinae |
Are water voles protected in the UK?
The water vole is fully protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and is a priority conservation species. intentionally capture, kill or injure water voles. damage, destroy or block access to their places of shelter or protection (on purpose or by not taking enough care)
Why are water voles endangered in the UK?
However, catastrophic declines due to predation from invasive American mink combined with habitat loss and fragmentation have resulted in the water vole now being considered one of Britain’s most endangered wild mammals.
What are people doing to help water voles?
Remove redundant artificial bank revetments. In upland areas create habitat refuges away from streams that regularly flood. Manage water courses, ditches and wetland areas sympathetically. Encourage areas of wetland plants to develop which provide important habitat for water voles, as well as wading birds.
What is a water vole in England?
Water voles are the largest species of vole in Britain and are sometimes mistaken for brown rats, which can be found in a similar habitat. They are also sometimes commonly known as the water rat or water dog. Head-body length: 12 – 20 cm. Tail length: About half the length of the body. Weight: Up to 300 g.
Where are water voles found in the UK?
The water vole is found throughout Britain, though it is less common on higher ground. It is infrequently recorded from parts of northern Scotland and is absent from Ireland. Water voles occur mainly along well vegetated banks of slow flowing rivers, ditches, dykes and lakes.
Is a water rat the same as a water vole?
However, the European water vole is growing in numbers at many of our wetland sites….Water vole vs brown rat.
| Water vole | Brown rat |
|---|---|
| Rounded, blunt face | Pointy face |
| Brown furry tail, half length of body | Long pink tail, full length of body |
Why are water voles protected?
Water voles are protected against intentional killing, capture or injury and intentional or reckless disturbance, obstruction, damage or destruction or their burrows.
What do water voles eat UK?
‘ Diet: They eat grasses and waterside vegetation: 227 plant species have been identified in their diet, and additional broadleaved plants may also be eaten at certain times. General Ecology: Water voles occur mainly along well vegetated banks of slow flowing rivers, ditches, dykes and lakes.
What is the difference between a water rat and a water vole?
However, the European water vole is growing in numbers at many of our wetland sites….Water vole vs brown rat.
| Water vole | Brown rat |
|---|---|
| Rounded, blunt face | Pointy face |
| Brown furry tail, half length of body | Long pink tail, full length of body |
| Small hidden ears | Visible pink ears |
| Furry paws | Pink paws |
How rare are water voles in the UK?
Population size & distribution. GB population of 875,000. Water voles were formerly widespread and common in England, Wales and Scotland, ranging from Cornwall to the extreme north-east of Scotland. They are still widespread but have undergone one of the most serious declines of any mammal in Britain.
What protection do water voles have?
Water voles are fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). Water voles are protected against intentional killing, capture or injury and intentional or reckless disturbance, obstruction, damage or destruction or their burrows.
