Current status
The water vole is found throughout Britain but is confined mainly to lowland areas near water. Once common and widespread, this species has suffered a significant decline in numbers and distribution. A national survey in 1989-90 failed to find signs of voles in 67% of sites where they were previously recorded and it is estimated that this will rise to 94% by the turn of the century. A recent population estimate based on the number of latrines found suggested a total GB pre-breeding population of 1,200,000 animals.
As the lower reaches of rivers become unsuitable for habitation, the distribution of water voles becomes discontinuous and existing sites become isolated and vulnerable. There are few data available on the ecology or conservation requirements of this species as its former common status means that it has attracted little study.
The water vole is being considered for addition to parts of Section 9 of the WCA 1981.
Current factors causing loss or decline
Loss and fragmentation of habitats.
Disturbance of riparian habitats.
Predation by mink.
Pollution of watercourses and poisoning by rodenticides.
Current action
A national survey for water vole was conducted by the Vincent Wildlife Trust in 1989-90.
Research, funded by Oxford University and the NRA, is now underway on the relationship between mink and water voles, on movements and on winter activity.
Action plan objectives and targets
Maintain the current distribution in order to arrest the decline of the species in Britain.
Maintain the current abundance in order to arrest the decline of the species in Britain.
Restore water voles to their former widespread distribution, using the Vincent Wildlife Trust survey of 1989/90 as a baseline, by the year 2010.
Proposed actions with lead agencies
Policy and legislation
Incorporate water vole conservation into relevant habitat policies and agri-environment schemes. (5.1.2)
Site safeguard and management
Incorporate water vole conservation into integrated area management plans (eg local BAPs, Environment Agency LEAPs, integrated catchment management plans etc), initially targeting areas as identified in Action 3. (5.2.3)
Ensure information on water vole conservation requirements and appropriate habitat management are available to all riparian owners, managers and advisers (through guidelines and a practical Handbook of water vole conservation). (5.1.2) (5.2.2) (5.4.1)
Species management and protection
Ensure appropriate protection under the Wildlife & Countryside Act for the water vole and its habitat.
Ensure that development schemes do not affect the integrity of water vole populations.
Using survey information, identify sites which are suitable for re-establishing populations. (5.3.3)
Where necessary employ appropriate mink control as a conservation tool to protect large breeding water vole populations. (5.3.2) (5.3.3)
Advisory
Future Research and Monitoring
Identify large, viable breeding populations of water voles and retain these with appropriate management and monitoring, from which a series of ‘key areas’ should be designated. (5.2.1) (5.5.4)
Following relevant research, establish a co-ordinated programme of translocation and re-introductions of water voles with local provenance where it is deemed appropriate and effective. (5.5.5)
Promote European co-operation in the study and conservation of threatened populations of water voles. (5.5.1) (5.5.2)
Ensure that the relative status and distribution of the water vole in Britain is monitored through repeats of the national baseline survey together with general catchment-based surveys in each region to determine the extent of the water vole populations and level of fragmentation of suitable habitat. (5.5.3) (5.5.4)
Continue existing and establish new national research initiatives on the ecology and conservation requirements of water voles. (5.5.1) (5.5.2)
Encourage the submission of data collated on a local level to LRC or BRC for incorporation into a national database, and to facilitate easier access to information. (5.5.6)
Communications and Publicity
Encourage the publication of research papers and features in popular press, magazines and the broadcast media to raise the profile of the species. (5.6.1)
Prepare school educational resource material for nation-wide distribution. (5.6.1)
Links with other action plans
None given.
Publication details
Originally published in: Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report - Volume II: Action Plans (December 1995, Tranche 1, Vol 2, p82)
Related links
ARKive Visit the ARKive website to view images and further information relating to this species