04/06/2026
It is the time of year to look for water voles! Well, that’s not quite true, as they are usually extremely hard to see even if they are present. Surveyors look for signs of water vole presence, and finding a latrine (a pile of Tic Tac-sized water vole droppings) is a moment of pure excitement ...... someone has to appreciate these things!
Late spring and summer is the time to survey, as it is when water voles are most active above ground. At this time, it is possible to find latrines, feeding remains, tracks, and the closely grazed miniature lawns that water voles make around their burrows. There are other species that create similar signs, and only finding a latrine or seeing a water vole is conclusive evidence of their presence.
Females make latrines to mark their territory during the breeding season, and it is thought this also signals to males that they are ready to mate.
Surveys are important for informing water vole recovery projects that aim to help them become common once again.
