water voles in garden + small child

[monkeymagics]

Hello all, I must say this is a very informative web site.
I have a small garden that backs on to a steam that I take care off.
Ive spotted a couple of water voles coming into the garden itself. I also have a 16 mounth old child who plays in the garden. Is there any chance of the voles passing on any diseases to my child, through urine etc?

[Dorts]

Hi, a warm welcome to WAB.
I brought-up my two boys in a cottage with a stream and plenty of Water Voles. The Voles were always in the garden eating whatever was available and running over the lawn in search of tit-bits.
The boys played on the lawn on a daily basis and never caught a thing. (They are now in their 40's.)
I think the chances of yours catching anything harmfull is remote, probably more likely to pick something up from the local cat population.
I am no expert on the diseases carried by Water Voles, but I would have no hesitation of letting my grandchildren play there.
But of course the decision must be yours.
Dorts.

[vole-woman]

You are so lucky to have water voles! And how lucky is your child.

No one's at any risk as long as they wash their hands after playing around the water and before they eat, but you'd do that anyway, wouldn't you? It's sensible too to protect any open wounds, eg cuts, with a plaster, before dabbling in the water.

This is not because of the presence of voles, but because pond and river water can be polluted with bacteria

[monkeymagics]

thanks for the quick response. will leave them be and just keep an eye on my child when he is around the stream and bottom of garden. would be nice to know where they live! do they have any typical places?

[vole-woman]

Look for burrows on the bank, about the diameter of Pringles tubes, and for chopped-up lengths of reed/grass, often left in neat little piles. There are pictures of burrows and feeding stations on my blog (link below).

You could put a tiny bit of apple out for them and then wait and a vole might come to take it. But don't put very much apple out, and don't do it too often.

Water voles are very endangered and enjoy full protection under the Widllife and Countryside Act, which makes it a criminal offence to kill or injure one or to destroy or damage the place where they live. So watch out for any pollution getting into the water, and if you see any please report it immediately to the Environment Agency on their hotline. Make sure none of your neighbours mistake the voles for rats and put down poison, and if you own cats, please put bells on collars, and keep the cats indoors at night. If you see a mink, let the local Wildlife Trust know without delay.

And enjoy your voles! I am so jealous.