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Why there’s reason to hope for Britain’s fastest-declining mammal

A great new article of this title by Roff Smith in National Geographic (https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/water-voles-britain-conservation) lifts the spirits by recognising that, at last, there really is hope of a recovery by Britain’s beleaguered water voles. It will be of no surprise to visitors to the Waterlife Recovery Trust’s website (to which the NatGeo article has a link) that this hope is based on the growing realisation that invasive American mink are now being systematically and permanently removed from our countryside and waterways.

Roff Smith explains why water voles matter to their ecosystems – ‘their burrowing and feeding activity aerates the soil, shifts seeds and nutrients, and helps to promote biodiversity, encouraging habitat for wildflowers, insects, reptiles, and amphibians. On a less cuddly, but equally important note, they’re also natural prey for otters, foxes, pike and barn owls who have their own livings to make in Britain’s woodlands and waterways.’

The article also carries some important quotes, including one from Ali Morse, water policy manager for The Wildlife Trust, one of Britain’s biggest conservation charities. “Before we can start reintroducing voles, we have to clear the area of mink”. And this from our Trustee Bill Amos, Professor of evolutionary genetics at Cambridge University, talking about WRT’s eradication work “It’s been extraordinarily successful. We’ve shown that clearing England is eminently feasible. Ridding the U.K. of mink will have a major impact on our wildlife. Water voles in particular will bounce back. They are already doing so in East Anglia.”

Roff Smith concludes with this: ‘The primary issue is cost. The initial eradication program was well-funded but to expand it further will mean seeking further funds. It’s a start but for Ratty and his kin, it’s still going to be a race against time.’

Indeed so, but we are making great progress and gaining pace – now active (with partners operating under our guidance and support in many cases) across 39 English counties and several in Wales and Scotland. If you are keen to see this welcome ray of hope realised, then please do join us as a participant in our work or support it financially.

Prof. Tony Martin

WRT Chair

Photograph by: Terry Whitaker

Published On: January 24th, 2025|Categories: Waterlife Recovery Trust|

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