Hull Biodiversity Action Plan

The Water Vole is the largest British vole. They are rat-sized with a blunt-nose, chestnut brown fur, short rounded ears and a long hair-covered tail. They inhabit densely vegetated banks of ditches, dykes, rivers and streams, generally where the current is slow and water is present throughout the year. Water Voles dig extensive burrow systems into the banks of waterways with entrances both above and below the water.

Water Voles are predominantly vegetarian and grasses are their main food, in particular Common Reed, sedges, and rushes. They also eat marginal wetland plants such as Meadowsweet and Nettles. In winter they feed on roots and rhizomes and on the bulbs of plants as well as hay they collected in autumn and kept on the floors of their burrow system. They also strip bark off woody plants, particularly Willow, but also Hawthorn, Elder and Poplar.

CURRENT STATUS

Water Voles are found throughout Britain but are confined mainly to lowland areas near water. Once common and widespread, this species suffered a significant decline in numbers and distribution throughout the 20th Century. Two surveys carried out by the Vincent Wildlife Trust in 1989-1990 and 1996-1998 have shown that this decline has now developed into a serious population crash. The first survey showed that from 15% to 74 % of the riverside sites examined were occupied. However, the second survey showed that in the intervening seven years the numbers of voles had dramatically fallen. This population loss has been most severe in the north and south-west of England, reaching over 97% of the population in Yorkshire.

Water Voles used to be commonly seen on Holderness Drain, Foredyke Stream and Old Main Drain at North Bransholme. A survey of North Carr in 2001 failed to find any signs of Water Voles. Recent surveys have determined that Water Voles still occur in waterways in Hull, however more research is required to determine locations and numbers.

CURRENT FACTORS AFFECTING WATER VOLES

Loss and fragmentation of habitats is thought to be one of the major causes of decline. Through the UK and especially in the intensively farmed lowlands, the straightening, piping and clearing of waterways has led to a massive and ongoing decline in the waterside habitats that Water Voles depend on. Not only has the total area of their habitat decreased but is it also becoming more restricted. As the lower reaches of rivers become unsuitable for habitation, the distribution of Water Voles becomes discontinuous and existing sites become isolated and vulnerable.
Water Voles can tolerate high levels of disturbance but if disturbance is prolonged then pressure is often too great causing voles to abandon sites. Frequent mowing of riverbanks, recreation such as angling and alterations for flood defence schemes, cause disturbance.
Pollution of watercourses may also cause Water Voles to abandon sites. The survey of North Carr noted evidence of chemical pollution and rubbish, including shopping trolleys, oilcans and polystyrene. Water Voles may be poisoned when vermin control is undertaken beside watercourses.
The replacement of floodplains with efficiently drained, tilled land leads to changed patterns of water flow and flooding. It also reduces the availability of refuges for Water Voles when severe floods occur. Periods of low rainfall combined with crop irrigation have led to low river flows and the drying up of smaller streams, ponds and ditches. This can leave voles unable to escape predators or patrol their territories. Drying out of the riverbank and therefore a reduction in the voles' food supply may also occur.
The Water Vole suffers predation by a number of native British animals, including Foxes, Otters, Stoats, Weasels, Owls, Herons, raptors and large fish. None of these animals depends specifically on Water Voles for its survival. Typically the Water Vole constitutes around 5% of the diet of these predators although this varies with vole abundance. Rats have been reported to predate young Water Voles, causing local extinction or displacement. Domestic cats and dogs have also given cause for concern. However, the American Mink (Mustela vison), a relative newcomer to the British countryside, has been more severely implicated in the recent dramatic decline of the Water Vole. This semi-aquatic member of the weasel family is very efficient at finding voles, following them in the water or even down their burrows, and eating them. The narrow, linear waterways left for the voles to live in are particularly easy to search and in many river systems voles have been completely eliminated. A recent survey of North Carr, Bransholme, identified habitats along the Wawne drain system which appeared to be ideal for Water Voles, both with respect to physical habitat and food plants but no signs of Water Voles were found. The presence of Brown Rat and American Mink were noted which might be the reason why there are no Water Voles.

CURRENT ACTION

Legal Status

The sudden decline in the numbers of Water Voles has led to this species being protected under Schedule 5, of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (Revised 1998). This legislation prevents intentional activities that damage, destroy, or obstruct access to any structure or place which they use for shelter or protection. It also prevents the intentional disturbance of Water Voles whilst in occupation of these places. This legislation does not protect the Water Voles themselves.

This legal protection requires that due attention is paid to the presence of the species during development or maintenance works in areas used by Water Voles and that appropriate actions are taken to safeguard the places used for shelter or protection.

Planning Policy Guidance on Nature Conservation (PPG 9) covers Water Voles and other protected species. The planning authorities should take appropriate action to check for the presence of such species and ensure they are protected through the planning process.

Management, Research and Guidance

Nationally, action is being co-ordinated by the UK Water Vole Steering Group. The Water Vole has been declared a priority species and the UK Biodiversity Steering Group produced a national Species Action Plan in 1997. The action plan aims to maintain the current distribution and abundance of the species in the UK. It also sets a target for ensuring that Water Voles are present throughout their 1970s range by the year 2010. In addition, consideration is to be given to habitat management and possible translocation of populations to areas from where they have been lost.

The Environment Agency is the lead partner for the Water Voles under the UK Species Action Plan.

The Vincent Wildlife Trust carried out national surveys in 1989-90 and in 1997-98. There is ongoing research by the Environment Agency and the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) into Water Vole ecology. The Water Vole is one of the focal species of the Wildlife Trusts.

The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust employs a Water Vole Conservation Officer for the East Yorkshire area to help safeguard the remaining Water Voles.

ACTION PLAN AIMS

To identify remaining Water Vole populations in Hull.
To protect Water Vole habitat from further damage.
To increase the number of Water Voles in Hull.
To provide advice on Water Voles and waterway management.
To encourage expansion of habitat through improvement of the wetlands and waterways.
To monitor the population of American Mink in Hull.
To remove rubbish from habitats used by Water Voles.
To increase awareness of the conservation of Water Voles and use them as a flagship species for promotion of good riverside and wetland management.

WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO

Action	Target	Partner	Aim
Policy and Legislation
Ensure Water Voles are protected through the planning process.	Ongoing: Require Water Vole surveys to be carried out before any development or flood defence schemes.	EA, KuHCC (Planning)	2
Habitat Management and Protection
Ensure development schemes do not affect Water Vole habitat or populations and ensure appropriate management is built into new development schemes.	Ongoing: All developments that may affect Water Vole habitat should be carefully considered and appropriate mitigation required.	EN, KuHCC (Planning, Design Agency)	2, 5
Mink control	Short Term: Carry out research into effect of Mink on Water Voles in Hull. Medium Term: Possible Mink control if research finds the species to be a limiting factor on Water Vole populations.	YWT (Water Vole Project)	6
Remove rubbish from River and Drains.	Short Term: Remove rubbish from ditches and drains at North Carr.	BGEEP, KuHCC (Area Committee)	7
Ensure no Water Voles are destroyed or disturbed as part of pest control programme.	Ongoing: Do not use rat poison in areas where Water Voles are found.	KuHCC (Environmental Health), EA	3
Advisory
Provide advice on Water Voles.	Ongoing: Ensure all relevant individuals, organisations (e.g.) community groups) and bodies (e.g. local authority) receive adequate information, advice and help about Water Voles and their conservation.	EA, YWT	4
Ensure that developers are made aware of the presence of Water Voles.	Ongoing: Ensure that developers are aware of the presence of Water Voles when responding to planning enquiries.	KuHCC (Planning), NEYEDC	2
Future Research and Monitoring
Determine Water Vole distribution.	Short Term: Survey all drains and associated waterbodies.	YWT, EA	1
Carry out research into ecology.	Short Term: Establish links with students at University of Hull/Bishop Burton College to carry out research on ecology.	YWT (WVP), University of Hull	1
Determine the effects of American Mink on local Water Vole populations.	Short Term: Determine numbers of Mink in Hull's waterways.	YWT (WVP), EA	1, 3, 6
Communications and Publicity
Use Water Vole as a flagship species for promotion of good riverside and wetland management.	Ongoing: Use presence of Water Vole as an indicator of good management.	EA, YWT	8
Involve public in conservation of the Water Vole.	Short Term: Press article to involve local community.	YWT	8

WHAT WE CAN ALL DO

Send for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Water Vole information leaflet.
Contact the Hull Biodiversity Partnership or the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Water Vole Project Officer if you see a Water Vole in Hull.
Contact the Police Wildlife Liaison Officer if you see people trying to harm Water Voles.
Be aware of the need to dispose of your rubbish carefully as clean waterways are essential for this threatened animal's survival.

LINKS WITH OTHER ACTION PLANS

Management of Fresh Water Habitats will be important to the conservation of Water Voles as their survival is linked to protection of their habitat. Actions for Water Voles may be beneficial to other species such as the Reed Bunting.

REFERENCES

Boyce, C.C.K. (1991) Water Vole Arvicola terrestris. In Corbet, G. B., Harris, S. (eds) The handbook of British Mammals (3rd Edition). Blackwell, Oxford. pp 212-218.

English Nature (1999) Water Vole Guidance for Planner and Developers. English Nature.

Harris, S., Morris, P., Wray, S. Yalden, D. (1995) A Review of British Mammals: Population Estimates and Conservation Status of British Mammals other than Cetaceans. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough.

Strachen, R. (1998) Water Vole Conservation Handbook. English Nature, Environment Agency, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Oxford.

Strachen, C., Strachen, R., Jefferies, D.J. (2000) Preliminary Report on the Changes in the Water Vole Population of Britain as shown by the National Surveys of 1989-90 and 1996-1998. The Vincent Wildlife Trust, London.