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ratty: |
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will Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 No. of posts: 330  View other posts by will |
Posted: 18 Apr 2010 From Barn Elms today - one of three water voles seen - nice to know they're evidently doing well there, along with the introduced grass snakes, slowworms and viviparous lizards  |
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will Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 No. of posts: 330 View other posts by will |
Posted: 07 May 2010 I take it back; apparently they're chewing the legs off frogs to get extra protein! |
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David Bird Forum Specialist Joined: 17 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 515 View other posts by David Bird |
Posted: 04 Jun 2010 The water vole is an extremely vicious animal, many years ago I was offered a pair from a university research project that had finished, these were being kept in doors in lab conditions and was told how nasty they could be, on the journey down to me one of the animals had chewed its way through the wall of the divided carrying box, usually perfect for carrying rats and half eaten its mate, no wonder they have become rare in the wild if this is anything like normal behaviour and why one normally sees them on their own in the wild. British Herpetological Society Librarian and member of B.H.S Conservation Committee. Self employed Herpetological Consultant and Field Worker. |
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ben rigsby Senior Member Joined: 27 Apr 2010 No. of posts: 337 View other posts by ben rigsby |
Posted: 06 Jun 2010 beautiful pic of a charming animal. i used to see scores of these and more often hear them "plopping" into the (disused) thames and severn canal as a boy. lucky to see one there now. a familiar story i know! Diversity. |
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will Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 No. of posts: 330 View other posts by will |
Posted: 06 Jun 2010 Cheers Ben. Must admit I always thought they were charming but in the light of David's comments I might have to revise my opinion... Interesting that on the continent they are 'field' voles, hence the latin name Arvicola terrestris - why they are so tied to water in the UK beats me. |
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ben rigsby Senior Member Joined: 27 Apr 2010 No. of posts: 337 View other posts by ben rigsby |
Posted: 06 Jun 2010 i know what you mean. they look like butter wouldnt melt so its quite shocking to hear davids story! i expect mammal expert STEVE HARRIS would have an answer for you. ben Diversity. |
- ratty |