Activity: Voles are active at all times of the year, day and night, and they do not hibernate. Water voles mainly eat grass and plants near the water. Woodland voles are one of the smallest species, usually measuring less than four inches in length. The pups usually open their eyes after three days and stay with their mothers for 28 days. Because voles don't hibernate, they depend on the company of other voles to keep warm in the winter months. At the other extreme shrews are even smaller than voles and have very pointed noses but they tend to be secretive making it unusual to see them. Water voles are round in appearance, often described as looking chubby, where as rats are much more slender. Vole Behavior. Evidence of Water Voles can be found on rivers, ditches, dykes, streams and ponds.

They prefer slow flowing water flanked by earth banks, into which they can easily tunnel and form burrows. 'Latrines' of rounded, cigar-shaped droppings may also be spotted. These voles rarely live longer than 12 months. These little rodents are active all year, foraging on the surface of their habitats or working on underground tunnels and burrows among thick vegetation.

Water voles start to breed in spring, having three to four litters a year of up to five young. Reproduction: As some of the most prolific breeders in the rodent family, voles can produce 5-10 litters per year with 3-6 young per litter. Lots get eaten by predators, especially American Mink. Water voles live under the snow during the winter. They prefer slow flowing water with earth banks, which are not regularly flooded, or areas of lush fen and reedbed where they can make aerial nests to safeguard them from flooding and predators. During their lifetime, females give birth to two to four litters each year which are composed of three to seven pups. Adult water voles each have their own territories, which they mark with fecal latrines located either near the nest, burrow and favoured water's edge platforms where voles leave or enter the water. They do not usually live in large groups. Water voles are one of the rarest burrowing mammals in the UK, and are an endangered species. Water voles also live in reed beds where they will weave ball shaped nests if no suitable banks exist in which to burrow.

Where do Water Voles Live?

Voles reproduce throughout the entire year, with peak rates in the spring and summer. Different species of vole have different preferences, but a number of species have given up hollow logs for urban landscaping as they enjoy the lawns, flowers, shrubs, trees and vegetables. Where do water voles live.

Voles can be recognised from mice because they are smaller, have much shorter tails and blunt noses giving them a stubby appearance. Why do water voles need protecting? Water voles have suffered huge declines as a result of habitat loss, pollution of waterways, industrialisation of agriculture, housing development and predation by American mink which were brought to the UK for fur farming. Larger species, such as the European water vole, live longer and usually die during their second, or rarely their third, winter.As many as 88% of voles are estimated to die within the first month of life. Voles have been known to live beneath yards and gardens and among crop fields where they can do damage to landscapes and plants. There are just two types of vole that can be seen in gardens. Woodland voles are also common throughout the area, and they prefer to live in forests with copious amounts of leaf litter on the ground. Water voles are expert swimmers and divers. However, in captivity, they can survive for five years, at most. They also have a preference for steep sided banks so that they can tunnel upward in the bank if the water level rises. Water voles live on rivers, canals, ditches, streams, ponds - and almost any kind of wetland. Voles occupy a large area of the planet, including most of North America. Up to 70% die during the winter months because they can’t find enough food, the weather can get too cold and flooding can destroy their homes. Most water voles rarely live past two winters.

How do water voles live?

In general, voles live underground anywhere there is enough food and water. A water vole tail is much shorter, only half the length of its body, and is covered in hair.

Water voles are short lived. In Europe and Russia, water voles may venture into woods, fields and gardens. Meadow vole: Water & Prairie Voles

The young ones are usually born blind and hairless. How long do they live for? At times, they will also consume fruits, bulbs, twigs, buds and roots. The average life of the smaller vole species is three to six months. Most live for 5 months, some can live for up to 2 winters. Chris Packham uses a man-made burrow to investigate water voles. Water voles like to sit and eat in the same place, so piles of nibbled grass and stems may be found by the water's edge, showing a distinctive 45 degree, angled-cut at the ends.