Water voles are semi-aquatic mammals that live along watercourses, burrowing into the banks and feeding on sedge and grasses.
They are chestnut to dark brown in colour, with a blunt nose. Water voles are smaller than rats, and are hunted by mink, brown rats and cats.
It is estimated that water voles have disappeared from 95% of their former territories. As of April 2008 water voles are a fully protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
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Survey work since 2006 has shown that the Whitchurch - Whixall area continues to be a national hot-spot for water voles.
Whitchurch lies at the centre of the Meres & Mosses Landscape Partnership area. The Whitchurch Community Water Vole Project is one of the partners and habitat work to help water voles will be a key part of the project.
Click
for a map of the partnership area.
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