WATER  VOLE
        Water Voles are British mammals, that live near slow flowing watercourses. They are about 20 cm long and are the colour dark brown. They are much like rats, only with a rounder body and shorter tail. Water Voles are typical vole shape, with a short blunt muzzle. They have small hairy ears and  plump rounded bodies. They eat many plants such as grass, fruit, roots, shrubs, invertebrates and tree bark.

        Water Voles are the biggest of all voles. Adults weigh from 200 to 300 grams. They begin breeding in early spring, building nests of grass or rushes either in burrows or sometimes in rosebeds or dense vegetation. Water Voles can have several litters each year with four or so in each litter.

        Most Water Voles do not live more than two winters. In fact, 70% of the voles die or are eaten by predators within one year.

       Water voles have become endangered due to habitat loss and fragmentation; predication by the American Mink (which have escaped from fur farms); pollution of watercourses; dredging of ditches and canals; human disturbance; poisoning and persecution, due to being mistaken for rats; and bad management of waterways.

        Water Voles are very interesting creatures. To find out more about these small mammals look for the book Water Voles by Rob Stratchan
the UK's leading field ecologist on voles in your public library. Or maybe if your really interested you could go to Britain and find one yourself!

By______Michael O'Grady

Lake Habitat              Land Habitats            School Site
St. Joseph's Intermediate "Exploring Land Habitats" Project