Water Vole Surveys
Legislation for Water Voles
The water vole Arvicola amphibius is fully protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This makes it an offence to:
- Intentionally kill, injure or take (capture) water voles.
- Intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to any structure or place used for shelter or protection.
- Intentionally or recklessly disturb water voles while they are occupying a structure or place used for shelter or protection.
Water voles inhabit watercourses and riparian habitats and create networks of burrows. Development activities such as vegetation clearance and excavations could result in the damage, destruction or obstruction of burrows and could result in the disturbance, injury or killing of water voles.
Survey Methodology
Two visits will be undertaken which comprise a detailed visual search of the watercourse to at least the surrounding 10m, where access is permitted. Field signs including live or dead water voles, burrows, tracks, droppings and feeding remains will be recorded where present.
Key Survey Considerations
Water vole surveys must be completed between April and September, with one visit between April to June and another between July and September.
Water vole surveys should not be completed during or immediately following periods of heavy rain or high water levels as evidence of water voles can be washed away.
Additional Requirements
Where water voles will be impacted, a water vole development licence may be required from the relevant statutory authority. This may comprise a licence to destroy burrows or take water voles (i.e. a translocation) or to displace water voles. The level of mitigation that will be required is dependent upon the impact. Some development activities may be subject to seasonal restrictions.
Further Survey Information
The survey will be undertaken in accordance with the following publication:
- Strachan, R., Moorhouse, T. and Gelling, M. (2011). Water Vole Conservation Handbook. Third Edition. Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Oxford.