European Water Vole - Five Sisters Zoo

Similar in appearance to the Brown Rat, the Water Vole can be distinguished by it’s shorter snout, rounder face and fluffy tail. They are chestnut to black in colour and similar to beavers, they are a key component of creating and maintaining healthy waterways and vegetation systems that benefit plants, animals and humans.

Facts

Diet: Omnivores; primarily grasses and water plants but pregnant females have been noted to eat some invertebrates and amphibians.

Weight: 150-300g

Length: 23-35cm

Habitat: Mainland Europe, Russia, some portions of northern central Asia; lives on the edges of freshwater waterways in forests, grasslands, wetlands and some manmade areas.

Life Span: 0.5-1.5 years

Adapted to Survive

  • European Water Voles can have up to 4 litters per year
  • They dig burrows for protection from both predators and harsher temperatures

Threats

  • Human expansion and land development
  • Human-wildlife conflict

IUCN Conservation Status

Least Concern

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