Can we reintroduce the water vole to Braunton Marshes? Natural England and North Devon UNESCO Biosphere have partnered up to find out.

The water vole, a small chestnut-brown furry mammal, was once a common sight  within the network of ditches of Braunton Marshes, but they are now sadly absent. Recent evidence indicates that water voles have undergone a long-term decline in Britain, disappearing from 94% of their former sites.

The native water vole was once found throughout Britain in high numbers, occurring mainly along well vegetated banks of slow flowing rivers, ditches, dykes and lakes. Predation by the introduced American mink, habitat degradation and pollution are thought to be the main contributing factors to the decline in this wonderful mammal. The water vole is now legally protected in Britain and is on the red list of British mammals at risk of extinction in Britain.

This partnership will first identify the presence and population size of American mink within the Braunton Marshes and the findings will be used to inform the reintroduction. The Braunton Marshes are a near perfect habitat for the water vole  with extensive networks of ditches with friable banks which are well vegetated with suitable food plant species.

These small mammals are really important for the ecosystem as they not only help to improve ditch flora and fauna but their feeding habits help to create lawns and burrows, allowing a more varied flora to develop. As they naturally occur in large numbers, they provide an important food source for many native predators and their absence in aquatic ecosystems has resulted in a decline in other species.

​To learn more about this exciting reintroduction, come to our walk and talk at the Braunton Countryside Centre from water vole expert, Derek Gow on the 1st of April. Sign up here.
Find out more about water voles here
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