Water vole latrines already?

vole-woman · #1 (**permalink**) 14-01-2007, 11:01 AM

I think I've spotted a water vole latrine already down by my local brook: About a Brook . If I'm right, does it mean they're gearing up for breeding already? And if so, might this not be bad news, given there could be wintry weather to come?

Billy Wobble Dagger · #2 (**permalink**) 14-01-2007, 07:49 PM

I have only been interested in water voles for the last 18 months and thought the latrines would be used all year round. If it is a signal that they are setting up territories and preparing for breeding it sounds very early especially with the threat of some very cold weather on its way.
I have put off going to my local colony as I know due to all the rain the river will have burst its banks and the water voles burrows flooded. I know they are hardy little creatures but I am worried about them. Hopefully they will be finding higher banks and will start re-burrowing. To make matters worse we are expecting further heavy rain all this week. Fingers crossed for there safety.

BWD

colinaj · #3 (**permalink**) 14-01-2007, 08:28 PM

Yea Latrines are used all year nothing to be concerned about. The Voles will probably wait until new growth forms on the rushes before rutting.
Col.

honeybee · #4 (**permalink**) 14-01-2007, 08:46 PM

I think the breeding seasons are expanding due to the weather. The voles have seemed as active as ever all winter.

Also the last female we trapped at the end of October was boderline low weight and that years baby so we were worried about survival but it's not been at all cold.

vole-woman · #5 (**permalink**) 14-01-2007, 10:00 PM

That's reassuring, Colin.

I haven't seen any voles since November, honeybee, but there are lots of star-shaped prints on the bank so they're clearly about. Probably waiting till that mad woman gets off the bridge before they come out.

Billy, I thought some of our voles were done for last spring when the council did a terrible dredging exercise without asking anyone first or checking, and removed all the vegetation from part of the brook. You could see where the digger had sliced into some of the burrows; I could have wept. But when I went back in the late summer all the banks were covered again and I saw a vole swimming in the water.

Billy Wobble Dagger · #6 (**permalink**) 15-01-2007, 07:57 AM

I will keep my fingers crossed. The water voles on the windrush seem to have been quite active all winter so far.

BWD

vinnychameleon · #7 (**permalink**) 15-01-2007, 05:39 PM

Hi guys. Can anyone tell me how to ID a water vole burrow as I think I may have found one.

honeybee · #8 (**permalink**) 15-01-2007, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vole-woman

That's reassuring, Colin.

I haven't seen any voles since November, honeybee, but there are lots of star-shaped prints on the bank so they're clearly about. Probably waiting till that mad woman gets off the bridge before they come out.

Billy, I thought some of our voles were done for last spring when the council did a terrible dredging exercise without asking anyone first or checking, and removed all the vegetation from part of the brook. You could see where the digger had sliced into some of the burrows; I could have wept. But when I went back in the late summer all the banks were covered again and I saw a vole swimming in the water.

The drainage board did exactly the same thing at the nature reserve during the breeding season, letting the mink come in. They're currently being investigated by police/sued!

Billy Wobble Dagger · #9 (**permalink**) 15-01-2007, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinnychameleon

Hi guys. Can anyone tell me how to ID a water vole burrow as I think I may have found one.

The burrow entrances are about the same size as a tennis ball or pringle tube. Generally no spoil at the entrance and certainly during the summer any grass around the entrance will be cut short, not sure about this time of year. The entrances can be anywhere on the bank and more often than not, I think, there will be two or three.

I'm sure a real expert will correct me if I'm wrong.
Where do you think you have seen one?

BWD

vole-woman · #10 (**permalink**) 15-01-2007, 07:33 PM

Arrggghh, I hate stories like that. Everyone working so damned hard to help wildife and then some f-wit crashes in and undoes everything. I'd string 'em up, never mind suing!

Re the burrow ID, it'll be hard to tell just now with the voles keeping a low profile. But generally the holes are tidy (rat holes often have heaps/fans of rubbish outside the entrance). It could be at any height up the bank, under the water level or even coming out of the top of the bank some distance away from the water - they like to have lots of escape routes. The size of the burrow entrance is smaller than a rabbit hole but bigger than a mouse's.