Water Voles.
A couple of years ago a group of members together with volunteers from St Nicks waded up most of the Foss from Yearsley baths to Towthorpe and found recent or active water vole traces in several places. We intended to repeat the exercise this summer, particularly as the water levels were very low, but Covid put a stop to that.
What is really worrying is that since that last survey, the number of sightings of mink reported to us has gone up very significantly. Mink are an invasive species, so have no predators to control them, and worse still, are very partial to Water Voles, who have little chance of escaping, and are too small to defend themselves.
Has anyone seen a Water Vole recently?
If you do, please let us know, and even better, try to get a photo!!
water vole swimming in the shallows of the Foss. Photo Julie Edwards.
A water vole feeds at the edge of the river. Photo Tony Ellis.