Water Vole Surveys
Why Do You Need a Water Vole Survey?
Water voles Arvicola amphibius are one of the UK’s most threatened mammals and are protected under schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is illegal to kill, injure or disturb water voles and to damage, destroy or obstruct access to a place used for shelter or protection.
Survey reports and mitigation plans are required for any development projects that could affect the local water vole populations. You will require a survey if there is evidence that water voles are present in the area of development and if the habitat is suitable for water voles.
If there is no way of allowing water voles to stay in the same place, a capture and translocation phase will be required, which will involve a licence from the relevant national authority.
A licence for this activity will only be granted if there is a conservation benefit for water voles. In addition, if you require planning permission this must be granted before a licence is applied for.
When to Carry Out a Survey
The best time to carry out a water vole survey is during their breeding season when they are at their most active. Surveys can be carried out during most of the year, but surveys between May and August are optimal.​​
A water vole survey will determine whether watercourses up to 500m from the proposed development have evidence of water vole usage. This will take the form of a visual search for the presence of water voles and their signs.
A water vole survey looks for:
Actual animal sightings/prints
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Evidence of burrow entrances
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Droppings/latrines
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Remains of feeding stations
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Runways through vegetation and footprints
Take a look at our survey calendar for more information.
What Will Pioneer Supply?
Our water vole report will present all survey results and provide a summary of the legal implications of their presence or absence. If required, mitigation recommendations will be designed to assist your planning application whilst ensuring that conservation measures are in place to protect this vulnerable species.
About Water Voles
Water voles Arvicola amphibius are members of the rodent family. They are semi-aquatic and live in territories spanning up to 130m along rivers, streams, ditches, ponds and lakes. Until recently, the water vole was widespread in the UK. However, they have disappeared from over 90% of sites where they are previously found. The crash in numbers has been one of the fastest and most severe reductions of any mammal species in Britain and it has happened mainly over the last 20 years.
For more information on water vole surveys, download our factsheet.