Protection

Water Voles and their habitat are protected under:

• The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended).

When do I need to get in touch?

Water voles in the UK typically occupy sites adjacent to still or running water where suitable food plants (grasses, sedges and rushes are present). If you are planning works near these habitats or are unsure as to whether water voles could be present then get in touch. Alternatively, a site’s potential to support water vole is usually identified within a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal / Phase 1 Habitat Survey.

To prevent delays in your project it is important to get in touch as early as possible as water vole surveys are highly seasonal as the species becomes inactive (and cannot be detected) between October and March inclusive.

How can EcoNorth help me?

We can advise you on water vole protection and your options. We undertake all types of water vole surveys, licencing and mitigation. We apply best practice guidelines, along with our in-depth knowledge of water vole and their habitat requirements, and present the results in our detailed professional reports to inform and support your project planning application or other consenting process.

Water vole surveys are undertaken from March to October and current best practice guidelines recommends a minimum of 2 surveys visits (one spring and one autumn) to ensure any change over the course of a breeding season is detected.