I think the voling season may be over: it's true that last year I managed to keep spotting them at White Lion Meadow car park till the start of November, but there was a much bigger colony and also the weather was quite a lot milder. Water voles don't hibernate, but they do spend longer and longer periods underground as winter takes hold.So instead of a vole I post pictures of the installation of the information board near Whitchurch Country Park. I saw a water vole just across the road from here, swimming under the bridge, one evening early this summer. (I should add, the board isn't really 6 feet high. The picture was taken before we sank the legs into concrete.)
When you say the voling season may be over, what does that mean? Please excuse my ignorance! but what do voles do in winter - do they hibernate?
ReplyDeleteNot specifically. They spend longer and longer periods underground, so to the human eye it's as though they've hibernated - you're unlikely to see a water vole between December to February. Field signs also disappear. You have to just cross your fingers and wait for the spring!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kate. I guess winter would be a good time to get those trolleys and litter cleared away then - if the voles are underground they'd be less likely to be disturbed by the work.
ReplyDeleteThe trolleys are out at the moment - thanks, EA! - but I might go down with my 10 foot litter-picker later today and see whether I can get out the cans and bottles. It beats me why anyone would want to much up such a lovely place.
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