Water Voles 2009

shirl · #61 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 11:46 AM

I agree, once it gets to June some of the sites are just so difficult to survey and by September there are nettles and thistles taller than me! Always a worry though because if there is some emergency work to be done by the canal, you have to try and survey and I am sure things will get missed.

There are a couple of streams I look at, both with wvs, and the bank is so soft it will crumble under your feet so waders is the only way. One of the streams is just full of rubbish in places, glass, metal etc that you really do have to be careful - waders and mobile phone, the latter in a 100% waterproof case of course!

Saw 2 wvs at dusk last night so always lovely to see. Kate - they are obviously there, but probably quite busy in their burrows preparing the nests and storing food, hope they become visible soon

Shirl

vole-woman · #62 (**permalink**) 15-03-2009, 10:05 AM

Some photos I took this morning.

Am I right in thinking these are rat burrows?

They're flanking the water vole burrow, like ASBo neighbours.

Pretty sure this is a water vole latrine:

And then there are these prints. I'm fairly sure this is rat because it was on a farm track:

but this print below was right by the latrine, so I think it's water vole:

If I'm right, would it be an over-simplification to say that one way of distinguishing between rat and vole prints would be that you can competely cover a water vole print with a 1p piece, whereas you couldn't quite cover a rat one?

camo · #63 (**permalink**) 15-03-2009, 07:55 PM

Hi VW

Rat holes I am not sure, clearly recent excavations but not trodden down as I would expect of a Rat, though likley to be Rat. Latrine sure it is W Vole. I agree on both tracks based on location. The penny tip is maybe a good one and I will try this out over the next few weeks. I am still stuck in Manchester but will get on the River next week.

Roy

vole-woman · #64 (**permalink**) 15-03-2009, 08:09 PM

Cheers, Roy, we'll look forward to your report!

shirl · #65 (**permalink**) 17-03-2009, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vole-woman

If I'm right, would it be an over-simplification to say that one way of distinguishing between rat and vole prints would be that you can competely cover a water vole print with a 1p piece, whereas you couldn't quite cover a rat one?

The problem is a juvenile rat print is virtually the same as an adult water vole print, prints are really very difficult to identify. As far as size goes an adult wv hind foot can be up to 35mm long and an adult rat hind foot can be up to 45mm long, usually the heel is more elongated with a rat. The best id is the star shape of the wv forefoor, but in very soft mud the rat print can show with splayed out toes too! Just to keep us on our toes of course.

I would go for your suggestions about the prints, the rat one - if you look at the print the pads have left in the mud, they are quite deep suggesting it may be rat as it's heavier. Also given the location it's more likely to be rat than wv. The other print looks like the classic star shape of a wv - unless it's a juvenile rat!

As for the burrows, the first one could well be rat due to the amount of excavated earth in front of the holes, rats tend to dig out holes from above the soil, wvs tend to dig from below ground so there ususally isn't any earth spoil. The burrows are quite close to the water level though - where you would expect to find wv holes!

Shirl

vole-woman · #66 (**permalink**) 17-03-2009, 06:15 PM

Oh boy!

vole-woman · #67 (**permalink**) 17-03-2009, 06:20 PM

Two more pics of droppings. Water vole? the coin is a 1p piece, 2cm across.

shirl · #68 (**permalink**) 17-03-2009, 06:42 PM

Hi Kate

The first pic looks like wv, varying colours but the 2nd pic shows a really odd one! Looks about the right size and shape but no idea what it has been eating if it is wv. Not seen that shade before

Shirl