Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob T  I
Now then, water voles and shrews do they share the same habitat if I went looking for one could I possibly stumble on the other. We have several rivers locally and some are more chalky and faster flowing than others could someone give me a bit of a clue as to who likes what. Ive never seen them on the same river.
Regards
Rob |
Hi Rob
Generally water voles generally prefer slow moving /static water, with banks which are steepish and soft, easy to burrow into and with good vegetation close by for cover /nesting material and food. I have found them by canals, streams, ponds, lakes and rivers. When visiting a new site, I always look for possible burrow holes first as that might be an indication that they have been or are there.
Water shrews generally prefer fast flowing rivers and streams but they have been found in drainage ditches and ponds (including garden ponds) and of course I have seen them in my local canal which is definitely not fast flowing! Water shrews eat invertebrates which they acquire by diving under water, the ones by the canal stir up sediment when they are foraging so look for murky patches in otherwise clear water. Water voles are mainly herbivorous and can often be seen in the entrance to their burrows munching reeds etc or even grazing on top of a grass bank.
Let me know if you locate some.
Shirl