WILDLIFE lovers across Wiltshire are being encouraged to record sightings and signs of water voles at riverbanks across the county during May and report their findings back to People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES).

In 2015, PTES launched the first National Water Vole Monitoring Programme to survey nearly 900 sites across the UK, recording findings of water voles along a 500m length of riverbank to track how the water vole population are faring across the UK.

People are already watching for the rare mammals on the River Kennet between Marlborough and Eddington, the River Avon just south of Chippenham and also just south of the M4, the River Wylye near Heytesbury, the River Bourne south of Tidworth and north of Newton Tony and the River Ebble near Bishopstone, but the Trust would love to hear from anyone who could expand their coverage of the county's waterways.

Emily Thomas, key species monitoring and data officer at PTES, explained: “We’ve had a fantastic response to the NWVMP over the last two years and the data collected so far is invaluable. With the help of volunteers, we will continue building a robust dataset which will be used to monitor year on year trends in the water vole population, to establish any further changes and to help guide future conservation efforts.”

To take part in PTES’ 2017 National Water Vole Monitoring Programme, or find out more visit www.ptes.org/watervoles

Water voles once readily inhibited UK riverbanks but declined after the introduction of non-native American mink. Despite the best efforts of conservation groups, the water vole has become an endangered species by experiencing the most dramatic decline of any wild mammal in the UK.

Credit: PTES

Credit: PTES