Water Voles 2009

[shirl]

Variable here too, one population has done and continues to do exceptionally well, just got back from the canal and have seen at least 11 - brilliant. Other populations by the canal seem a bit low on numbers but of course it's difficult to say how many water voles there are even based on latrine counts. But all in all not a bad year, and I think we have only caught 2 mink, they are still around and we have lots of rafts out to monitor them.

Shirl

[vole-woman]

All sounds pretty good. I wonder how BillyWD's gone on?

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

Originally Posted by vole-woman

All sounds pretty good. I wonder how BillyWD's gone on?

All good I would say around Andover. The amount of vegitation has caused problems for most of the summer hiding all traces of water voles. Early on in May and was seeing lots and they slowly started to spread out. But now I'm lucky if I see one or two. I'm sure there still around just hiding from me. Certainly no sign of mink on my local patch but lots of otter activerty. Looking forward to findinf a new patch near Bristol to report from for next years water vole 2010 thread.

BWD

[vole-woman]

That's great to hear, Billy.

[rangersarah2]

I'm lucky enough to live in an area where water voles are a common site. Just on the reserve I can pretty much guarantee seeing them weekly - daily at some times of the year - without deliberately looking for them. We had one area that voles and rats appeared to live happily side by side.

Has anyone else seen them climb trees? I kid you not, and yes, it was def a water vole.

[vole-woman]

Yes, I've seen a photo of one near the top of a bush, and video footage of one swinging about in a willow tree (and falling off into the water!).

That's great to hear, rangersarah2. Whereabouts are you based?

[shirl]

Ours regularly climb trees too, often it will be young sycamores during winter / early spring as they just love to nibble the bark.

Shirl

[vole-woman]

If you scroll down to 20th April 2008, you'll see a pic of a vole in a bush! New Hythe Wildlife Blog

[rangersarah2]

Originally Posted by vole-woman

Yes, I've seen a photo of one near the top of a bush, and video footage of one swinging about in a willow tree (and falling off into the water!).

That's great to hear, rangersarah2. Whereabouts are you based?

It's good to hear that others have seen this - no-one would believe me.

Based Barton Upon Humber, North Lincs

[vole-woman]

BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | 'Bumper year' for UK water voles

Possibly a slightly misleading headline, as more sightings doesn't neccessarily mean more water voles, but it's still encouraging news.