Yorkshire Water has announced the discovery of previously unknown water vole populations across the Peak District and South Pennines, marking a significant win for the critically endangered species. The findings, released at the start of National Mammal Week, suggest that the native rodent is successfully moving into upland areas in South Yorkshire.
Water voles are currently on the ‘Red List’ and are considered at high risk of extinction, having seen numbers crash by over 90% in the UK. This decline has been driven by habitat loss and predation by the American mink, an invasive species released from fur farms in the late 20th century.
Ecologists from Yorkshire Water, working alongside the Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust and various university researchers, found that the voles are inhabiting more moorland catchments in the River Don and River Holme than previously estimated. The discovery has prompted further collaboration with the Waterlife Recovery Trust, a charity aiming to eradicate mink from the region within five years, allowing native wildlife to recover.
Sean Davey said: “We knew there were still water voles at one of our South Yorkshire reservoirs, but the recent surveys have found them in many more streams in the moorland catchments of the River Don and Holme. We are continuing surveys across Yorkshire to understand exactly where water vole populations persist.”
Luke Nelson said: “As well as recording new water vole sites in the uplands, we’ve been improving habitats by creating new pools and slowing the flow of water on upland streams. Surveys have shown that the water voles are quickly colonising these new habitats, hopefully leading to more resilient and better-connected populations.”
The ongoing conservation efforts involve a combination of habitat enhancement, such as slowing the flow of upland streams, and targeted predator control to ensure the species’ survival in its new upland strongholds.
