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Biodiversity in Bexley

About Bexley's wildlife

Bexley's Biodiversity Action Plan

Species Action Plans

Water Vole - (Arvicola Terrestris)

Aims

• To conserve existing water vole populations and increase their range and numbers through safeguarding and improving suitable habitat.

Introduction

• The water vole is Britain's largest vole. It has a chubby, whiskery face, small neat ears, a blunt snout and hairy tail. Commonly their fur is a rich chestnut brown colour although this may vary from dull brown to black. they are essentially vegetarian, feeding mostly on grasses and riverbank vegetation although they sometimes eat roots, bark and seeds.
• Water voles are found in all kinds of wetland habitats such as ditches, rivers, canals, streams and ponds, preferring steep natural banks in which they create burrow systems.
• As a character in the children's classic "The Wind in the Willows" the water vole (or water rat!) is a familiar and popular animal and as such is potentially an excellent flagship species whose presence reflects healthy waterside habitats.

Artist: Barry Small; © London Borough of Bexley

1. Current Status

1.1 Status Nationally

• The changing fortunes of the water vole throughout the 20th century have only recently been brought to light following the national water vole surveys conducted by The Vincent Wildlife Trust during 1989-1990 and 1996-1998.
• Results from these surveys confirmed that this species had become increasingly scarce on our waterways since the 1930s due to habitat loss and land-use changes associated with the intensification of agricultural practice.
• The rate of water vole decline was found to have increased since the 1980s due to predation by feral American mink.
• The decline has developed into a serious population crash and between the two above surveys the losses were found to be two thirds (67%) of occupied sites and nine tenths (88%) of population in estimated numbers, making the water vole the most rapidly declining mammal in Britain.
• Throughout London, the water vole has disappeared from 72% of sites that it had previously occupied prior to 1997 (London Mammal group Water vole survey 1997).
• Although the species is generally widespread around the periphery of Greater London, these populations remain highly localised and fragmented.

1.2 Status in Bexley

• Water vole distribution in Bexley is associated mainly with the grazing marshes in the north of the borough. These provided excellent habitat for water voles, especially where the dyke banks are not poached through overgrazing.
• Grazing marsh in Bexley forms a substantial part of the inner Thames marsh system, which is nationally important for water voles and is one of the nation's key sites.
• Loss of grazing marsh to urbanisation in the latter part of the 20th century would have greatly reduced the water vole's population both in terms of numbers and distribution.
• In the absence of a full survey of the marshes water vole populations in the marshes area are noticed as sites become earmarked for development where reactive surveys follow.
• Identified current strongholds of water vole populations are at Crayford and Erith marshes and Crossness nature reserve.

2. Current factors causing loss or decline

• Habitat loss through urbanisation of natural river banks. river engineering works, canalisation of streams changes in drainage and industrial developments have all contributed to loss of available habitat.
• Fragmentation and isolation of water vole populations following destruction of habitat increases their vulnerability and accelerates decline.
• Deterioration of riparian habitats. Water voles appear to be fairly tolerant of low water quality although the effects of localised pollution such as industrial effluent are unknown. Low water flows, droughts and prolonged flooding can lead to temporary and often permanent losses.
• Insensitive bank side management and bank modifications (director or indirectly through over-grazing) can cause destruction of water vole burrows, loss of emergent and fringe vegetation and degrading of habitat, seriously affecting the success of populations locally. Water voles are fairly tolerant of human activity (boating, angling, dog walking etc.) if they have sufficient vegetation in which to hide.
• One of the most serious threats to water voles in recent years has been predation by mink. these predators are excellent hunters of water voles, which have little or no defence against this alien species. The effects of this predator on water vole populations can be swift and severe, local vole extinctions occurring within months of mink invasion.
• Rodenticides and rat control along watercourses may affect water voles populations but when carried out carefully, rat control has been shown to be beneficial to water voles.

3. Current action

3.1 Legal Status

• The water vole has been given legal protection under schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended 1998). This legal protection makes it an offence to intentionally:
  • Damage, destroy or obstruct any structure or place which water voles use for shelter or protection.
  • Disturb water voles while they are using such a place.
• Water voles are also protected under the wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996.

3.2 National Action

• The water vole has become a key species for survey and research, many county trusts and mammal groups organising extensive surveys in order to establish local and regional status and distribution.
• A steering group is in existence, co-ordinating and initiating projects and monitoring schemes throughout the country.
• A national database for records is planned when resources become available.
• A project examining the effectiveness of translocation and re-introduction is being undertaken with implications for future recovery programmes.
• Literature is becoming available to provide advice to landowners, planners and conservationists on best practice methodology for development mitigation and conservation projects.

3.3 Local Action

• Determine the distribution of water voles in Bexley, Surveys to include rivers, streams and ponds in addition to the grazing marsh habitat.
• Initiate a baseline survey that can be repeated in order to monitor the status of water voles throughout the borough.
• Integrate habitat enhancement and sensitive management into existing and future procedures and plans for management of waterside habitats.
• Ensure flood defence measures are being carried out in accordance with best practice guidelines to maintain water vole populations.
• Identify locations in which habitat enhancement and creation can take place I order to restore water vole populations and their habitat.

4. Advisory

• Raise awareness among official parties, landowners, authorities, grazers and developers as to responsibilities regarding water vole conservation.
• Provide advice to developers and planners if existing water vole populations are to be affected by future development.
• Include the water vole in literature etc. when promoting the area in terms of conservation value.

5. Links with other Bexley habitat and species Action Plans

• Grazing marsh
• Reedbeds
• Rivers and standing waters
• Wetlands

6. Links with other local and national policies

• UK Water Vole Species Action Plan - Tranche 1, p82
• London Biodiversity Action Plan, Water Vole Species Action Plan.

7. Table of objectives and actions

Objective 1: To establish a baseline for future monitoring.

Target: The status of key populations to be surveyed by end of 2001.

Objective 2: To safeguard existing water vole populations.

Target: No new losses of water vole habitat or populations.

Objective 3: To increase status of the water vole in Bexley in terms of distribution and abundance.

Target: Create new and enhance existing habitat for future colonisation by water voles.

Public involvement for the water vole

What is a water vole, where and when can I see one and what can I do?

What does it look like?

• Sometimes known as the water rat, the water vole (Arvicola terrestris) is the largest British vole weighing between 200 and 350g., but can be easily distinguished from the common rat by its shorter, more rounded body, blunt muzzle and short round ears which are almost hidden in its fur. Its tail is about half the body length and is furry rather than scaly like a rat's. The water vole's fur can vary from reddish brown to almost black.
• They are almost entirely vegetarian, living on vegetation growing on the river bank as well as in the water. Currently over 220 different species of plant have been recorded in their diet (they eat what's available!) although grasses seem to be a favourite.

Where and when can I see one?

• Water voles can be found in many kinds of water side habitats, ranging from rivers and canals to ponds and marshes, but they have few adaptations to water life. Their feet are not webbed and their fur becomes water-logged with prolonged submergence (they are often seen at the water's edge grooming their fur).
• Current knowledge suggests that they live in close proximity to water in order for ease of escape from predators as they can easily jump into the water to escape a fox or weasel for example. As they do this, they make a familiar 'plop' sound which is perhaps a signal to other voles.
• they dig burrows in the bank, the entrances of which often point down towards the water for ease of entry and exit.
• They breed from February to October (weather permitting) and are most active at dawn and at dusk although they may be seen during the day feeding or collecting food to take into their burrows.
• They often feed at particular locations amongst clumps of vegetation, where they will leave small piles of chopped leaves, the presence of which is an important clue as to their whereabouts.
• Other useful field signs are their droppings which are very distinctive.

What can I do?

• Keep a record of sightings of this animal and of its field signs, stating when and where seen to report sightings to the county mammal recorder of the London Natural History Society.
• Report any activity on the riverbank that may be affecting a known water vole population. When water voles are present it is the habitat in which they live that is protected!
• Join London Wildlife Trust and volunteer for survey and monitoring in your local area.

Contacts and reference material

London Water vole Project Officer
London Wildlife Trust
Harling House
47-51 Great Suffolk Street
London SE1 0BS
020 7921 5474

Clive Herbert
London Mammal Group
67a Ridgeway Avenue
East Barnet
Herts, EN4 8TL

LNHS
Nature Conservation Working Group
c/o David Bevan
Contract House, Hark View Road
Tottenham, London, N17 9AY

Publications:
Strachan, R. (1998)
'Water Vole Conservation Handbook'
Environment Agency

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