Mammal ID

[mrs fish]

I'm sorry it is dead but I would like to know what it is if possible, I very rarely see mammals about the LNR and they are usually dead if I do.

[hachidori]

Its a vole, though there is no scale, and there is no tail on show, so dont know which one. How big was it?

[mrs fish]

It was longer than a mouse, the back half had decomposed.

It was in the same area I have sighted Water Voles, just by a ditch.

[djackso]

I'm impressed with hachidori - very hard to tell in that state!

[hachidori]

Well its impossible to be exactly sure, but the overall look (blunt nose) is that it is a vole. The thing is that its ears are very visible, and pretty large looking for a vole, as they tend to have small ears. Its not too much of a leap to assume that this little guy is a young Water Vole. The reason I think this (and not field or Bank Vole) is because of the overall appearance, but mostly because of the ear thing.

Young mammals tend to have porportionately larger ears and eyes than their adult counterparts. They kind of "grow into" their ears and eyes.

Scientists think that this may be part of - don't laugh - the tactic of looking cute. Short muzzle, big eyes, big ears are all characteristics of animals that require tending by their parents, and it is a possibility that they have these exaggerated features to appeal to the parent animal and encourage feeding / tending.

Anyway, I digress. The point is that because it is a vole (blunt nose, red-grey fur) but it has big ears (pretty un-voley for an adult) I am fairly convinced this is a young Water Vole. The fact that there are voles in the are and that it was found near water support this too.

Poor little guy!

[mrs fish]

Well if it was a young Water Vole that is good and bad news, good that they are about still and breeding , bad that the local wild tom cat has probably killed it.
I did wonder if the Kestrel could of killed it but I'm sure it would of got eaten or would a Mink kill and not eat it ?

It is a mystery how it ended up where it was on the path in the decomposing state it was in.

Thank you for your input

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

Well if it was a young Water Vole that is good and bad news, good that they are about still and breeding , bad that the local wild tom cat has probably killed it.
I did wonder if the Kestrel could of killed it but I'm sure it would of got eaten or would a Mink kill and not eat it ?

It is a mystery how it ended up where it was on the path in the decomposing state it was in.

Thank you for your input

All three are good candidates for killing Water Vole (especially a small one) but only one commonly kills and doesn't eat it...it begins with C and ends in at!

[djackso]

According to people I've spoken to with Mink on their land, Mink are vicious and ruthless killers and they DO kill and NOT EAT their prey.

[mrs fish]

Yes well I have also spotted a Mink in the exact same area

I need an Otter or two

I will inform the local Wildlife Trust of it possibly being a young Water Vole.

[paulthomas]

I'm not totally convinced it's a Water Vole. The ears look a bit big to me. A young rat might be another possibility. The best thing to do rescue the remains and have a look at the teeth. Water Vole teeth are orange.

[vole-woman]

Only in adults, though.

[mrs fish]

What do you think vole woman ?

I've sent the pic and details to the WT.

[vole-woman]

I've looked at this pic loads of times, and I just can't tell. It might be Water Vole, and orange teeth would be a giveaway for an adult. The fur's the right color for a vole (rats are greyer). But beyond that, I just couldn't say. Hope you get some kind of definitive ID from the WT.

[mrs fish]

I found another pic I had forgotten about

[vole-woman]

Those ears do look big for a Water Vole, but OTOH the rest of its head is a bit shrunk!

[hachidori]

I agree that the only way to be sure is to collect the skull. (I doubt it is still there but you could always try!)

[vole-woman]

About a Brook: skull

For future reference, this is a Water Vole skull, with an adult's orange teeth.

[mrs fish]

I have had a look and can't find the body

Here are some pics of the possible parents if it is a Water Vole,

The back leg and tail look similar



A bad photo I know but it shows the local Water Voles do have some grey to them


and they also have quite large ears

[vole-woman]

Yes, those do look very similar.

[vole-woman]

Hey, terrific blog, mrs fish! You're a woman after my own heart!

[mrs fish]

Thanks
It is people like you who got me into it all

[vole-woman]

I'm flattered!

I started my blog after reading the one about The Wombrook in Staffs. It's like dominoes falling, isn't it?