Good luck with this year’s survey! Scotland’s water voles often appear darker, with many having a black coat. Each year we will ask you to survey your site(s) once during May and submit your findings online, whether or not you found water voles or their field signs. Tail shorter than water vole tail, only 30% length of head & body, whilst water vole’s is 60%. The survey is based on the People’s Trust for Endangered Species National Water Vole Monitoring Programme (NWVMP) survey guidelines (2015). Dedication ROB STRACHAN a water vole). Technique: Walk over assessment of the water feature banks up to 5m from the water’s Collecting material from water vole feeding stations. Water vole surveys can be undertaken between mid-April and September. Surveys during March and November may be possible but will be dependent on weather and climatic conditions. This publication aims to promote best practice in the surveying and mitigation of water voles by ecological consultants, and to guide and inform decision makers that suitable survey information is provided and suitable mitigation measures proposed (Dean et al., 2016). Water Vole Conservation Handbook (Third Edition) This document provides the most up-to-date guidance on surveys to inform conservation (but not development) and habitat management. Survey work will be undertake during daylight hours during the optimum survey season (April to September), when Water voles are most active. Water voles may also select a favoured feeding spot along pathways, or on a haul out platform known as a feeding station. It is much bigger than other vole species. 4. The 2011 Water Vole Conservation Handbook itself cites four case studies where the displacement technique has been used (pages 91, 96, 97-98 and 102) and each time has been shown to fail. Recently published guidelines specify 2 visits; 1 from Mid-April to June, 1 from July to September. Water vole tail is slightly longer than that of bank vole, with it being 60% head and body length compared to 50%. water voles from over 13km of habitat despite a regime of vegetation cutting designed to effect their displacement (Markwell, H. 2008). This involved searching for evidence of water voles and making an assessment of the habitat This is part of our Good Practice Guidance for water voles, produced by Mike Dean. 2.2 Survey Methods 2.2.1 The DMRB does not give specific guidance on water vole survey techniques, therefore the survey methodology followed that described in the Water Vole Conservation Handbook (Strachan, 1998). Bank vole (Myodes glareolus) Bank vole much smaller than water vole with head and body length of 9-11cm compared to 14-22cm. 3. However, if a water vole is seen to be present you should withdraw immediately. These will have a neat pile of nipped vegetation with sections between 5 and 10cms in length and are good field signs of water vole presence. Water voles will gnaw through willow branches up to 1 inch in diameter. From these two sets of information it is possible to estimate the actual and possible numbers of water voles living along the watercourse. Welcome to the National Water Vole Monitoring Programme (NWVMP) survey guidelines, thank you very much for participating. survey found no evidence of water voles. Watching a known water vole site from a distance or from concealment to see if it is occupied, providing there is no intention of disturbing the water vole. The Water Vole Mitigation Handbook This document provides the most up-to-date guidance on survey, mitigation and monitoring in the context of development projects. The water vole has chestnut-brown fur, a blunt, rounded nose, small ears, and a furry tail. 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