: Water Vole feeding by Tom Marshall

By Jenny Simpson , Hampshire

& Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

Living along rivers and streams and around ponds and lakes , water voles dig their burrows into the riverbank . Water voles are much bigger than other voles and can be distinguished by their chestnutbrown fur , rounded nose , small rounded ears , and furry tail .

Water voles are expert swimmers , able to swim up 500m on the surface or 15m underwater . They will kick up a ‘ cloud ’ of mud underwater if they are being chased , acting as a smokescreen to help them get away from predators . Water voles will also

add several underwater entrances their burrows provide more escape routes . As well as digging burrows , water voles may also build small platforms from twigs and grass on tufts of weed which they use sunbathe . The water vole is Britain ’ s fastest

declining wild mammal , and has disappeared from many parts of the country where it was once common . It is threatened by habitat loss , but has suffered particularly from predation by the introduction of the American mink . However , improvements to