Extract from BBC News Highlands and Islands 22nd October 2010
Water Voles thriving at Quinag
Numbers of Britain’s fastest-declining mammal are on the rise at Quinag in Assynt. Researchers from Aberdeen University found that water vole numbers are increasing at the site, despite a decline of the mammals across the UK.
Water vole monitoring started at the John Muir Trust property in 1987. This year, researchers found the third highest annual occupancy of mammals at the site.
The species is classed as priority by the Government under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Loss of habitat and predators such as the American Mink has led to a 96 percent decrease in water voles since 1950.
Chris Sutherland, research leader at the University of Aberdeen, said: “With the continued support from the John Muir Trust, this unique long term study of one of our national icons aims to understand the ecology of the water vole in order to provide conservationists and land managers with information that can best prevent their decline.”
Sightings of the shy creatures are rare and monitoring takes place where there are signs of activity.
Burrows and droppings are monitored to check for water vole presence to help glean detailed information on the species.