History of the project
Volunteers surveying water vole habitat in Rutland, October 2010
In May 2011 Rutland Water Nature Reserve were granted a licence to begin reintroducing water voles (Arvicola amphibious — formerly A. terrestris) to suitable habitat found on the nature reserve.
Prior to the licence being granted, extensive surveys for field signs were carried out throughout the Rutland catchment area by our staff and volunteers in order to establish the current status of water voles in Rutland. Unfortunately no recent signs of use were identified in Rutland, but plenty of relict holes from populations past were found throughout the River Gwash and corresponding water bodies. Past records gathered from the public confirm the physical evidence.
A release pen containing water voles
The disappearance of the water vole from Rutland coincided with an increase in sightings of the invasive American mink (Neovison vison), although the Water Vole has many natural predators the mink as an introduced species, can easily follow voles into their escape burrows which means mink have a significant negative impact on Water Vole populations. A single female mink can wipe out a small population of water voles within 48 hours.
On a release pen containing water voles, note the baffle on top which will be later put on the front of the pen to allow voles access.
Assistant warden, Lloyd Park feeding the water voles prior to release.
Assistant warden, Lloyd Park releasing the water voles.
Mink management
We have been monitoring mink on the reserve using our mink detection rafts, which rely upon the minks’ natural inquisitive nature to encourage them through the tunnel of our rafts. The raft bottom is plastered with clay which allows us to easily detect tracks which may then indicate mink presence and distribution on the reserve.
Staff carrying our mink raft maintenance/monitoring on the nature reserve
Keep an eye out for our rafts all over the reserve, if you would like to see one there are active rafts viewable to the public at Fieldfare Hide or Smew Hide. We do ask if you see a raft on the reserve, not to interfere with it as this could affect our detection capability. You may also see our members of staff attending to the rafts during their regular checks, please feel free to ask them any questions you may have. Staff will endeavour to limit any disturbance whilst they are monitoring the rafts, which usually only takes 5-10 minutes.
So far we have found no sign of mink however, tracks found include; moorhen, rat, weasel, otter and domestic cat!
Releases
In May we initially released 80 voles to the wet meadows area, and staff have found evidence of voles spreading throughout the reserve already including finding evidence of breeding.
One of our Water Voles
In early August 160 voles were brought to the reserve and are currently being acclimatised in release pens placed throughout the area, particularly in the excellent habitats in lagoons II & III as well as Burley Fishponds. Some of these pens ware placed outside of grebe and redshank hides.
The voles are kept in the pens for three days to give them time to adjust to their new surroundings. On the third day, wooden baffles are placed at the front of the pen (see left) to allow the voles to come and go as they please for a further two days after which point the pens are removed.
So please keep an eye out for our voles and report any sightings to the front desk at the visitor centre or email either vikki@rutlandwater.org.uk or becky@rutlandwater.org.uk