shirl

Hi Shirl

Just discovered your great photos and videos of Water Shrews from last year. Are they still about? This is an animal I've never seen despite a fair amount of tiptoeing about in the right habitat - so if they're still there I'm wondering if you'd be able to provide directions.

Hi Shirl,thanks for comment on the woodmouse photo.He is cute isnt he?
regards ellen

Hi Kate

I know what you mean, we still have snow here so it's useless trying to look for signs. We had some emergency work on one section of the canal 2 weeks ago and the water was drained, usually 2 wvs there, they have hit a problem and there is still no water. I hope the wvs have managed to go to a new site safely, and I want to go and check as soon as the snow disappears. Aren't they such a worry.

Shirl

Thanks, Shirl. I can't wait for the weather to warm up so I can get out there and do some proper survey work!

Hi Kate

Difficult one in that sort of squidgy mud, but most of them do look like wv tracks, rats do leave a slighter deeper trace due to their weight and there may be a couple of rat tracks in there too. I can't really judge the size in mud, but they do look smallish, so more likely again to be wv, especially with the splayed out feature. Fingers crossed there won't be too many rats there, most of them seem to have come indoors for the winter - especially in my loft yet again. It is of course the perfect time to start seeing wv tracks etc, getting ready for the breeding season, not sure how they will cope in all this snow.

Shirl

If you've a minute, can you give me your opinion on some footprints I've posted on my blog, Shirl? I can't tell whether they're rat or w-v.
Thanks
Kate

About a Brook: Bits and Pieces

That's great, Shirl. If you're on the team, the voles will be safe.

It's quite scary isn't it Kate, you never know whether to leave the wvs or not, problem is again the rats are here only because of humans, we have alot to answer for. I know another cause for concern is the virus element which may spread to wv's. Still at least people like us are doing our bit to help our little wvs survive, I really hope we aren't too late though.

Had a bit of a break through with our local council who need to clear silt out of part of the canal, they have employed their own consultants to look at potential impact but they have also asked if I will get involved - they don't know what they are letting themselves in for!

Shirl

God, no, I'm always poking about strange ditches!

I've seen rats use water vole runs and 'launches', but I've never specifically seen one in a w-v burrow. Periodically they try and oust the w-vs near me, and I have to get pest control in. The one time I tried to leave it and hope the voles sorted it, they all disappeared. I learnt my lesson!

From what I have read so far, they could compete both for territory & food although I don't think there are any stats to show how significant that might be. Generally though water vole holes are much smaller (except where dogs have helped it along!) , but it would be the right size for a young rat - the rat burrows in my garden have quite large entrances and so far this year I have only seen juveniles popping in and out. Theoretically though rats could I suppose, do you think that may have happened?

Did a presentation to the wildlife trust & partners last Friday on water voles followed by a visit to one of the hotspots, 2 little ones came out to see us. Going on holiday for about 12 days on Friday, and the campsites I have booked are quite close to water courses!!! Well you can't miss an opportunity to check other sites can you.

Shirl