Sunday 2 November 2008

What do water voles do in the winter?

A Cromford vole taken by John Harding last month
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Water voles don't hibernate as such, but they do spend much more time underground during the winter months, eating food they've stored eg tubers. Field signs virtually disappear, and the White Lion Meadow banks seem deserted.
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So this blog will, like the voles, go quiet till the spring, when I hope to bring you more news on the colonies round north Shropshire. Will Spot make it? Statistically, the odds are stacked against him - winter mortality rates are very high for water voles - but let's keep our fingers crossed, and hope he's back in the picture next February/March.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I look forward to the Spring, and best of luck to Spot and the rest of the colony.

Unknown said...

Yes, hope spot does make it through the winter! Good luck.

Unknown said...

Yes, let's hope Spot does make it through the winter! Good luck.

Anonymous said...

Enjoy your winter break and look forward to the updates of your excellent blog.

Kate said...

Thank you! I was lucky enough to see a badger last night, which was nice, but I do miss my voles. Roll on the Spring.