Water Voles re-introduction in our local river systems (1 Viewer)

MikeD

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I have been working today with the re-introduction of Water Voles in our local Nature reserve and the adjacent valley/river system.

Really pleased about it and the first day went well. Around 180 water Voles released throughout the river system.

I have done volunteer work for most of my adult life and this is one project I am very proud to be involved in.

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May 31, 2015
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Well done, it is a on going battle for them.... as a fisherman I’ve seen a few on the banks.

One time at a fishery the owner was shooting at a rat until I told him it was a vole...:doh:
 

Jenben

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That looks like a great project to be involved with , will you be monitoring them to see how they do ?

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Oct 14, 2013
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We had water voles here but not sure if there are any left as we have Mink here , a lady came down from the Otter preservation society a while ago as we have Otters here too and she said the mink are also eating the crayfish which Otters rely on as a food source as well as fish .

Silvia
 
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Great project, we still have a few in our nature reserve here and no mink seen for ages, but vole numbers are well down

Last one I saw was a couple of years back when I heard the ‘plop’ like a dropped stone and saw one in the stream, as I looked in the water I got my first ever sighting of a water shrew, looks like a load of bubbles under water

I love nature, well done you ??
 
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MikeD

MikeD

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That looks like a great project to be involved with , will you be monitoring them to see how they do ?

Yes - there is an on-going monitoring programme. (y)

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MikeD

MikeD

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We had water voles here but not sure if there are any left as we have Mink here , a lady came down from the Otter preservation society a while ago as we have Otters here too and she said the mink are also eating the crayfish which Otters rely on as a food source as well as fish .

Silvia

We have a local Otter but I understand they are usually anti Mink and chase them off.

But Otter I think enjoy the odd Vole for lunch but can't follow them into the Vole's nest hole like a Mink can.

We also have a few Herons about and they will also enjoy a Vole or two for lunch. (y)
 
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MikeD

MikeD

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The re-introduction is going well. After a period of acclimatisation we released the Water Voles today and they appear to be happy.

We have put a few floating feed areas around and these photo's

was taken today.

Not totally in focus and a huge crop as I had the wrong lens with me but I am still well pleased.

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MikeD

MikeD

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They are still going strong but alas the trail camera has captured one being caught by a Heron and another was observed being carried away by a Crow.

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MikeD

MikeD

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The local photographers have captured a few images of the Herons having a good lunch and we have found a few that have passed away but the introduction is still going strong.

Hopefully the pictures below are not of a Bank Vole and will be the first young Water Vole seen in the valley since the early 1990's.

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ronidog1

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Mike I think the photos are great. Thanks for sharing them. The project is inspirational. We hear some stories of doom and gloom.

We have some camera traps out in the Yorkshire dales. Watching the video footage is better than autumn watch on BBC.
 
Feb 22, 2011
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It must be very rewarding to do this work.
I looked on our local Wildlife Trust website, they had volunteer vacancies but seemingly only for heavy manual work landscaping :(

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Well done Mike, it must be very rewarding (y)
 
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MikeD

MikeD

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It must be very rewarding to do this work.
I looked on our local Wildlife Trust website, they had volunteer vacancies but seemingly only for heavy manual work landscaping :(

The last Nature reserve I volunteered at was just like that. Alway manual labour and some of it really boring. Pulling Ragwort was the worst job for me.

But the Trust are very different - they offer courses in almost everything including driving and using almost all of their mechanised equipment. Full sized farm Tractors to tiny powered strimmers.

They recently put me through a course of driving a John Deer Gator - a little 4x4 vehicle. So every Monday morning I drive all over the common lands (500+ acres) collecting litter etc. It's rewarding to do and great fun.

Recently I have been making Barn and Tawny Owl nest boxes and foot path signage. I hope to be involved in putting these out around the estate and revitalising a Kingfisher bank soon.

There is always something interesting to do. (y)
 

ronidog1

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Not all volunteering is heavy work. At Ingleborough national reserve volunteers observe the wildlife, monitor structures in the landscape, support students etc.

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MikeD

MikeD

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We have a new predator looking for lunch. :(

We have recently surveyed the river looking for sign and hopefully the report will be issued soon.

But the parts I surveyed showed good indicators that they have successfully integrated themselves into the area.


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Wonderful......they need al the help they can get and with people like you looking out for them they stand a great chance....I applaud you.

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