Mammals | Water Vole
Water Vole
Arvicola amphibius
The water vole was once common in streams, brooks, rivers, canals and wetlands throughout the UK. There were 8 million of them in the early 1900’s, when their very distinctive ‘plop’ was often heard as they dived out of sight. Now there are only about 100,000 of them. Water voles are ecosystem engineers. These ‘mini beavers’ constantly manage and micro engineer waterways for the benefit of wildlife and us. Their foraging and burrowing increases biodiversity for the benefit of many species, including small mammals, many species of bees, butterflies, insects, insect-eating birds, birds of prey and bats.
| COMMON NAME | Water Vole |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Arvicola amphibius |
| STATUS | Endangered |
| DISTRIBUTION | Great Britain, Europe and parts of western and central Asia |
| HABITAT | Rivers, streams, canals, ditches, ponds, wetlands and wet moorland |
| NATURAL DIET | Grasses, reeds, sedges and other waterside plants, roots, bulbs, twigs and fruit |
| HEIGHT | 140mm – 220mm |