Distinguishing a water vole from a rat

[Holdaway 2]

I live in a small town down south. On the edge of town is a heath with a pond, it has no mink - yet...

 

I have been asked by the committee I am on to provide evidence of Watervole activity on the pond as they are becoming so much rarer. I have found tracks, latrines and feeding stations and have even seen them diving under the water on approach.

 

My question is...how to distinguish between the tracks of watervoles and brown rats. Both can be similar in size, both resemble the human hand, both inhabit bankside holes.

 

The latrines were scattered with green droppings indicative of the vole, the feeding stations are classic with the reed vegetation cut off as if with scissors and the reed tops left floating in neat little log jams.

 

There are a lot of brown rats around the pond as the locals feed the ducks/swans with literally TONS of bread and specially bought food stuffs every year.

 

So is there a way of telling tracks apart in case I can't get a photo of a vole and also what would be the best time to see one for a photo op?

 

Regards to all

 

H

[Rolfe 2]

I live in a small town down south. On the edge of town is a heath with a pond, it has no mink - yet...

 

I have been asked by the committee I am on to provide evidence of Watervole activity on the pond as they are becoming so much rarer. I have found tracks, latrines and feeding stations and have even seen them diving under the water on approach.

 

My question is...how to distinguish between the tracks of watervoles and brown rats. Both can be similar in size, both resemble the human hand, both inhabit bankside holes.

 

The latrines were scattered with green droppings indicative of the vole, the feeding stations are classic with the reed vegetation cut off as if with scissors and the reed tops left floating in neat little log jams.

 

There are a lot of brown rats around the pond as the locals feed the ducks/swans with literally TONS of bread and specially bought food stuffs every year.

 

So is there a way of telling tracks apart in case I can't get a photo of a vole and also what would be the best time to see one for a photo op?

 

Regards to all

 

H

Well you already have the evidence H..... in the vole latrines and feeding stations. My instinct would be to stake out the feeding stations for a few hours.....varing the times throughout the day. Early evening is always a good time though.

Rat activity is usually (though not always) higher up the bank from the waters edge than that of the vole, and the runs have a far more "greasy" appearance than those of the vole. Also.......if it is very wet........look for signs of "tail-drag" behind any footprints you may observe........this will tell you if it is rat or vole.

Could you not try and cage trap a vole as evidence.....?

 

Rolfe.

[meinnotts 1]

late evening / dusk for the vole and look for ''tail drag'' as said before

[RatSnatcher 0]

remember that voles are a protected species the same legal protection as otters. From April 6

[undisputed 1,664]

I could be wrong but doesn't a water vole have a hairy tail?

[undisputed 1,664]

I could be wrong but doesn't a water vole have a hairy tail?

The European Water Vole (Arvicola amphibius or A. terrestris) is a semi-aquatic mammal that resembles a rat. In fact, the water vole is often informally called the “water ratâ€.[3] Some authorities consider the Southwestern Water Vole in the same species, but it is now generally considered a distinct species.[2] [4] Water voles have rounder noses than rats, deep brown fur, chubby faces and short fuzzy ears; unlike the rat their tails, paws and ears are covered with hair.

 

In the wild, they survive for 5 months on average; most do not survive a second winter. In captivity, they survive for a maximum of 5 years

 

 

Hope this helps!

[borderman45 0]

The water vole has got a hairy tail, a much blunter face, its also usually darker and the entrance to the hole will generally be clear of vegetation as the vole will eat it around the entrance. Hope this will help. Colin.

[Holdaway 2]

A quick scout around today finds some old evidence but nothing over the past two days except for a new bankside hole under a willow.

 

The very edge of the pond

 

An old feeding station

 

A poo pic

 

A good print in poor light

 

A pretty pic...

 

Going to get up early and see if we can't snap one before the world and his dog get up.

 

H