Water vole

Arvicola terrestris

Size – approx. 15cm in length, not including the tail.

What habitats does it normally live in?

A semi-aquatic mammal, the water vole lives in burrow systems dug into the banks of rivers, streams, canals, lakes and ditches. They are even known to frequent ponds.

What does it feed upon?

Grasses, rushes, reeds and sedges during spring and summer. The diet changes to bark, roots and rhizomes and bulbs in the autumn and winter

How does it reproduce or breed?

Breeding season – March to September, up to five litters per year with 2-8 young in each litter.

What are its main threats?

The long-term decline of the water vole is due to habitat loss and fragmentation. More recently predation by North American feral mink (Mustela vison) is now threatening existing populations.

Watch Facts

Interesting fact – There is no such species as a water rat, there is a water vole, a brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) and a black rat.

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