Water Vole
Mammal
The water vole is a plump, chestnut-brown riverside mammal with a blunt nose and furry tail. Once common along Britain's waterways, it grazes on bankside plants and is now one of our most threatened mammals.
💡 Fun Facts
- The water vole is Britain's largest vole, with a blunt, rounded nose, chubby face and a furry tail — it is often mistaken for a small rat.
- This is the animal behind "Ratty" in the classic book The Wind in the Willows.
- Water voles dig burrows in the banks of rivers and ditches, and dive underwater with a distinctive "plop" when startled.
📅 Through the Year
- Breeding:April to September
- Active:March to October