BBC Wildlife - UK (2020-04)

WILDAPRIL

Searchingfor‘Ratty’is an
idealopportunitytoenjoy
somemindfulnessinnature.
That’sbecauseyourbestbetis
tositdownbystillorslow-
movingwaterina tranquil
wetland...andwait.Voleslike
a steepbankforburrowing,
thoughit doesn’thavetobe
veryhigh,andeachterritory
is quitesmall– sometimesas
little as 25–50m of bankside.

Withinthis,theyhavefavourite

picnicspots,wheretheysit

munchingsedges,water

crowfoot,horsetailandother

lushgreenery.Fewwatervoles

surviveoutsideconservation

areas,soheadtoa wetland

reserveorcanalwherethey’re

knowntobeactive.

FINDOUTMORE Water

voles:ptes.org/water-voles

4 |WATERVOLE

Down by the waterline