Conservationists want to track voles at wetlands

Conservationists have called on people to look for water voles that were reintroduced at a nature reserve last year.

A total of 116 water voles that were bred in captivity were released at Nene Wetlands in Northamptonshire.

However, follow-up surveys along parts of the River Nene are yet to record sightings.

Emily Luck, the water vole officer at the People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), said people often mistook them for rats but they were "more charismatic than rats".

"We are asking for volunteers to let us know where they are so we can target our conservation work," she said.

PTES is asking for vole-unteers to report sightings of the rodents across England, including Northamptonshire.

The population has declined by about 90% since the 1970s.

Last year, 113 sites across Britain were surveyed, with water voles found at 47 of them.

Historically water voles thrived along the River Nene, but PTES says habitat loss and predation by the non-native American mink are responsible for the fall in numbers.

The charity sited Dallington Brook in Northampton as one of the potential vole locations that was under-recorded.

Vole-unteers can choose from more 700 pre-selected riverbanks and streams or register their own location.

They are asked to record signs of water vole presence such as droppings, burrows, footprints, or the distinctive "plop" as the animal enters the water.

Ms Luck added: "[Voles] can live in almost any waterway so as long as they've got fresh vegetation, good soil to burrow into... it's ideal."

The survey initiative runs until 15 June.

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