Where does the European water vole live?
The European water vole is found in most of Europe, Russia, West Asia and Kazakhstan. It is very common in mid-mountain grasslands, where it digs galleries and gnaws roots. In Britain, water voles live in burrows excavated within the banks of rivers, ditches, ponds and streams, normally next to slow-moving, calm water. They also live in reed beds, where they weave ball-shaped nests above ground if no suitable banks exist.
What does the European water vole eat?
Water voles mainly eat grass, sedges, rushes, herbs and other vegetation near the water, but will also consume fruits, seeds, bulbs, twigs, buds and roots when given the opportunity. They have rounder noses than rats, deep brown fur, chubby faces and short fuzzy ears. Unlike rats, their tails, paws and ears are covered with hair.
Is the European water vole endangered?
No: the IUCN lists it as Least Concern, but in Britain it has declined a lot: in 2015 a charity launched a project to coordinate conservation efforts in the UK. In the wild, on average, water voles only live about five months. Heavily grazed and trampled riparian habitats are generally avoided.
