watervole?

[fluff11]

we have a very big wildlife pond 35 X 40ft that was built 4-5 yrs ago,we have left it completley natural,only planting native weeds etc,during the recent cold spell i was walking near the pond (looking at the tracks in the snow) when i heard a plop, i looked to where the noise had come from and there was a corner of unfrozen water moving, we have a very good supply of weeds etc ,so could it be a watervole?,also i noticed in the liner about 3-4 " above the water line a neatly chewed hole about 3" long X 2" deep going down into the carpet which we lined the pond with, could this be mr watervole?

[Beekeeper]

Very nice pond and something that size may attract a Watervole but i rather think they prefer running water, no doubt someone will confirm or otherwise, it could possibly be a Rat but somehow i doubt it, if it contains fish, could it be something which has a diet of including fish?

Ian

[fluff11]

we have not introduced fish,but i have seen tiny ones sunbathing, i suppose the eggs could of come in on ducks that sometimes visit the pond,anouther occupant we have is the great crested newt,during the summer if one goes to the pond at night and shines a torch then you can see a real party going on beneath the water

[Dogghound]

It could be a water vole sounds like one with the characteristic plop. You do get them in large ponds and lakes, even small ponds that are close to running water. The well vegetated sides are well liked. Rats dont tend to dive under the water either.

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

Hi Fluff11,
You might have a water vole it's not unheard of for them to live in lakes and large ponds, although running water is preferred. Do you have a river or stream near by where he could have wandered from? Did you notice any tracks in the snow around the burrow?
It would be very good news if it was a water vole. Keep us posted

BWD

[fluff11]

Originally Posted by Billy Wobble Dagger

Hi Fluff11,
You might have a water vole it's not unheard of for them to live in lakes and large ponds, although running water is preferred. Do you have a river or stream near by where he could have wandered from? Did you notice any tracks in the snow around the burrow?
It would be very good news if it was a water vole. Keep us posted

BWD

the nearest stream/field run off is about 150ft away,in the morning i will have a look and see if any foot prints are there.

[Dogghound]

Just as a matter of interest what sort of habitat is between you and the stream? Its likely if you do have any they have come from this stream, especially if food is short.

[vole-woman]

Do hope it's a water vole! The best way of telling is to look for latrines, but you won't find those till the spring. Water vole footprints are starry, but unfortunately can look quite a lot like rat footprints. Keep a lookout and let us know!

I'd be tempted to pop a bit of apple down the burrow to help the vole through the cold weather - what do the rest of you think?

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

Originally Posted by vole-woman

I'd be tempted to pop a bit of apple down the burrow to help the vole through the cold weather - what do the rest of you think?

Can't see that it would do any harm. Although it might be better to put extra food by the river, if access is easy, to feed the whole colony if they are water voles.

[Willo]

There were watervoles living in the pond/lake of my parents last house. It was a tad larger than the one described here. It was fed by a stream which exited on the same side of the lake as the inlet so there was not a huge amount of flow. So I would agree with the others.

A word of warning, as lovely as the voles are they can cause some damage to the banks. Although the worse damage was caused by the much larger musk rats that were also resident.