Water vole

Water voles (Arvicola terrestris) live in the banks of ponds, lakes, streams, canals, ditches and rivers.

Water voles have been lost from almost 90% of the sites where they used to be found. This is due to damage to the bankside where they live, such as removal of vegetation. Mink eat water vole and are a cause of water vole decline.

Water voles are now fully protected under section 9 of the The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Variation of Schedule 5) (England) Order 2008.