Topic: Water vole

[Val]

Saw one yesterday, first in this area for a long time, there  used to be loads but they all seemed to disappear, lets hope they are on the way back.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Let's hope so indeed. The disappeared as mink spread; these are small enough to follow the voles into their burrows. Otters are coming back though, and as they become more common, so the numbers of mink decline, and voles have a chance to return.

[Val]

Years ago , before the disappearance I saw a stoat, well think it was, golden brown and white? Do they kill the voles? I did wonder at the time.

[Robert_Brenchley]

They would if they got a chance, but the voles never go far from water or their burrows, and stoats are land-dwellers, so I wouldn't think they'd take many. Stoats mainly eat rabbits if they can get them, but if they can't, they'll go for the smaller mammals.