Water voles (Arvicola terrestris)
The water vole, or ‘water rat’ as it is often mistakenly called, was formerly one our most familiar and abundant riverside mammals. This mistaken identity may perhaps be due, in part, to the popular character of ‘Ratty’ in Kenneth Grahame’s ‘Wind in the Willows,’ but the historical familiarity of this animal is also reflected in the numerous other local names for the species, including ‘waterdog,’ ‘water mole’ and ‘earth hound.’ In Gaelic, it is known as ‘radan uisge’ or ‘lamhallan.’
Sadly, Ratty is now one of our most threatened native mammals. The species has undergone a dramatic decline, particularly during the latter part of the twentieth century. Two national surveys undertaken in 1989-90 and 1996-98 have revealed that voles have been lost from many areas where they were formerly common.
Water Vole Fact File
The water vole (Arvicola terrestris) is a rodent and is a member of the largest and one of the most successful order of mammels in the world
- Three native voles are found in Britain. The water vole is larger than the other two the field vole and the bank vole.
- Like all rodents our vole has growing incisors which act as chisels aiding gnawing for tunneling and eating.
- Essentially herbivorous, the water vole consumes some 227 different plant species needing 80% of its own body weight daily.
- They are active both day and night. Over the winter up to 70% of the population may die.
- A female will have 2 or 3 litters a year with an average of 5 young born.
- A water vole could live up to 3 years although few survive more than 4-6 months.
- The otter may be the saviour of the water vole as mink, a keen predator, may move out of an area where there are otters.
Current status of the water vole
Current factors affecting water voles
Action plan for north east Scotland
