Rafting Water Voles
Two weeks ago I was at YWT Skerne Wetlands nature reserve for a conservation work day. We set up water vole rafts in some of the ponds. Mink rafts record footprints, but these simplified versions for water voles detect their presence by collecting droppings. When spaced out along a water course they can indicate individual water vole territories. Securing a water vole raft to a stake The rafts are left for a fortnight Last week we returned and were pleased to see that several of the rafts had a good sprinkling of droppings, indicating a healthy water vole population. Water vole droppings on a raft As they are crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk) I went back last night to watch and photograph the voles. It was a sunny evening with little wind, so conditions were ideal. I put some small pieces of apple on one of the used rafts, then sat on the opposite bank of the pond and waited. A raft baited with apple After half an hour or so, I heard noi...