Water Vole

Britain’s largest vole, the Water Vole is a sturdy rodent with rich chestnut-brown fur, small rounded ears, and a blunt nose. It can be told apart from rats by its furry tail, hidden ears, and plump body. Adults usually measure 14 to 22 centimetres long, with a tail about half the length of their body. The Water Vole is found along slow-moving rivers, streams, ditches, and pond edges across much of England, Wales, and Scotland, although their numbers have fallen sharply. They are not found in Ireland. They make large burrow systems in riverbanks, with entrances underwater. You can often tell they are nearby by the distinctive ‘plop’ sound when they dive into the water and by neat piles of chopped plants left at feeding spots by the water. Water Voles mainly eat plants, such as waterside grasses, reeds, and sedges. They are most active around dawn and dusk but can sometimes be seen during the day.