What mammal walked here?

[djackso]

In an attempt to find water voles, I photographed these tracks at the edge of a small lake. The coin has a diameter of 18 mm.

Can anybody help me identify them - I thought they could be a rat or a water vole, and then I considered that they could be something else completely







Any help gratefully received. Although I guess they may be impossible to ID.

[vole-woman]

That looks like water vole to me. It could possibly be rat, as their toes splay out in soft mud, but generally that star-shape is characteristic w-v. Were there any other signs, eg droppings or feeding or burrows?

[djackso]

Oh - that sounds optimistic - I did look for the "tic-tacs", feeding stations etc, but I couldn't see any.

There was very little access to this particular pond.

One day I'll do back and look again, and for other signs.

Thanks for your help.

DJ

[mh68]

Rat tracks have longer heel patterns than Water Vole. As you cant see the full prints its hard to say, but i`d go with Kate`s suggestion.Other signs in the area will clinch it though, as Kate points out

Mark H

[Tracey.A]

I really don't know if this is a young rat or a water vole and I don't have as much experience as vole-woman has, so I would tend to be guided by her gut feeling re this.

Tracey

[djackso]

Thanks all - I am sufficiently optimistic by your comments to go back and try and get better prints, and other signs, as you point out!

[vole-woman]

Rat tracks have longer heel patterns than Water Vole.

I don't suppose you have some comparative shots you could show us, Mark?

[vole-woman]

djackso, the easiest signs to spot would be feeding, probably. Get right into the long reeds and part them, and look down at the mud. Any freshly chopped-up vegetation should stand out brightly. Even one piece, cut at a slanted angle, means vole activity. (Be careful if there are burrows around, though, not to tread on any.)

[mh68]

Originally Posted by vole-woman

Rat tracks have longer heel patterns than Water Vole.

I don't suppose you have some comparative shots you could show us, Mark?

I dont have any Rat track photos Kate, unfortunately.I`ll try and sort something though as soon as i get the chance

Mark H

[djackso]

Originally Posted by vole-woman

djackso, the easiest signs to spot would be feeding, probably. Get right into the long reeds and part them, and look down at the mud. Any freshly chopped-up vegetation should stand out brightly. Even one piece, cut at a slanted angle, means vole activity. (Be careful if there are burrows around, though, not to tread on any.)

Thanks - I'll look for those pieces of vegetation when I get chance to go back there.