Once a familiar sight along our waterways, water voles have rapidly disappeared from much of the landscape, experiencing the most serious decline of any wild mammal over the last century. This was due to predation by the non native Mink, plus the loss and degradation of much of our riverine habitats. To ensure that we have a better picture of what is happening to the species nationally and that we are in a position to act quickly when needed, People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) is launching the first ongoing National Water Vole Monitoring Programme across England, Scotland and Wales, working in collaboration with The Wildlife Trusts and other organisations.

About the National Water Vole Database and Mapping Project 
The National Water Vole Database and Mapping Project is managed by The Wildlife Trusts.  It was established in 2008 by the UK Water Vole Steering Group, with funding provided by the Environment Agency, Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT) and People’s Trust for Endangered Species, as a way to collate water vole survey records, map the distribution of this species and identify important areas for water vole conservation. The Project also collates and maps data on American mink. Data gathered by the National Water Vole Monitoring Programme will be submitted to the National Water Vole Database and Mapping Project, so it can be included in the national distribution maps and alert and key area map. This project also ties in with Essex Wildlife Trust's own Riversearch otter and water vole survey project.

For more information on the national project please click here.