Water ‘vole-unteers’ called to survey local riverbanks this spring - PTES

Charity calls for help surveying water voles as part of national effort to save Britain’s fastest declining mammal

Wildlife conservation charity People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) is calling for volunteers across England, Scotland and Wales to survey for water voles this spring as part of ongoing national efforts to save this endearing yet endangered species before it’s too late.

Emily Luck, Water Vole Officer at People’s Trust for Endangered Species explains: “Water voles hold the unfortunate title of Britain’s fastest declining mammal and are listed as Endangered on the Red List for Britain’s Mammals, reflecting the seriousness of their decline. Since the 1970s populations have plummeted by an alarming 90% because of habitat loss, fragmentation, and predation from non-native American mink. Water voles desperately need our help, but thankfully people in all corners of Britain can do just that by surveying a nearby stream, river, ditch or canal between 15th April – 15th June and telling us what they find. The results show how populations are changing, where water voles remain and where they’ve been lost. This is crucial as it allows us to understand how we can help by restoring degraded rivers, improving connectivity between wetlands and controlling invasive American mink.”

Volunteers can choose from over 700 pre-selected riverbank sites, or a new site can be registered if there isn’t a pre-selected option close by. ‘Vole-unteers’ are asked to visit their chosen site in search of water voles or the tell-tale signs that they are present (such as burrows in the riverbank, tic-tac sized droppings, footprints or the characteristic ‘plop’ as they enter the water), and record their findings online. Taking part requires no previous experience, and PTES offers free ID guides and online training to get started.