Trossachs Water Vole Project

The Trossachs Water Vole Project (TWVP) began in 2008 with the aim of re-introducing the European water vole (Arvicola amphibius) to the Loch Ard forest area of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. Water voles had been historically found in the area but due to poor land management in the past and heavy predation from the introduced American mink (Neovison vison) the population had become extinct. Land improvement sympathetic to water voles and other wetland animals has been undertaken by the local Forestry Commission district since 1993 along with an extensive mink control programme. In 2008 the decision was made to release a founder population of water voles into the Loch Ard forest. Further releases have continued since 2008 along with constant monitoring of the water vole population and control of the American mink population. Now into its fifth year results have shown that water voles are present across the forest in all past release areas as well as 12 new sites that the water voles have colonised naturally. In the next stage of the project monitoring of the existing water vole population will be increased to measure the spread of water voles outside of the original release area as well as increasing the area of American mink control.