Water voles

[aestarte]

I have a question, I read today in my local paper that in April water voles will be fully protected, not just thier homes. My question is, there a some water voles living on the canal behind a supermarket and a D.I.Y store where I live (I feed them every week) these stores lay poison for rats I suppose what are the chances of the voles eating the poison and where do the stores stand on this?? Just a ponder. Fi. X X X X

[demicav]

I was under the impression that Water Voles were already fully protected . I'm sure the poison won't be doing them any good but there will probably be someone more knowledgeable about it than me.

[shirl]

Prior to the new legislation it was the water vole habitat which came under protection, e.g. damage to burrows etc. Although alot of the detail is still being worked on ,as I understand it the water voles themselves are now protected with penalties of up to £5,000 fine or 6 months imprisonment. It might be a good idea to contact your local wildlife trust to let them know that rat poison has been sited in an area where water voles are present.

Shirl

[Sparrowlegs]

Water Voles are legally protected in Britain and were included on schedule 5, section 9 (4) a & b of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as ammended) 1998.

If the people placing the poison are unaware of this, then may I suggest you tell them or inform your local authority.

[Dogghound]

They mainly eat vegetable matter like grasses, roots, sedges, and bulbs etc, but can be quite opportunistic and eat fish and insects. So rat poison has a slight possibility of being eaten by them. As shirl says best to report it.

[blueboar]

Water voles given increased protection

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

And this in the WAB news section from the wildlife trusts

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/wi...re-water-voles

BWD

[aestarte]

Hi all, will be writing letters to the two stores in question as apparently I'm not important enough to get a meeting with the managers and also will be writing to my local wildlife trust, I'm aware that the stores need to repel the rats and mice but the voles are so cute (I know the rats are too) and I am sure even though they are vegetarian mainly they are inquisitive too. I'm rambling but I will do all I can to keep the little critters safe.Fi. X X X X

[snail1]

Just seen a water vole in our pond. Beautiful creature and fast swimmer. Are they very common these days?

[Adam Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by snail1

Just seen a water vole in our pond. Beautiful creature and fast swimmer. Are they very common these days?

No, but they are increasing slowly on some rivers.

Cheers,

Adam