EXPLORE SCIENCESNAPS
Protecting water voles in North East Scotland
Listen to the podcasts
Water voles are the most endangered mammals in the UK and they are in desperate need of our help to make sure they don't become extinct. Their populations have dropped dramatically in recent years and they have two big problems to overcome: their homes and feeding areas have been damaged, and they are being killed by American Mink.
The North East of Scotland has small populations of water voles on different rivers and we are trying to protect these animals as well as improving other areas so that they can expand in numbers. The key to our success will be the continued involvement of local volunteers who monitor where mink are living – we record their footprints left on special rafts we put on the river banks.
Of course, water voles depend on suitable places to live, undisturbed on river banks, so we work with farmers and other landowners to find ways of improving the condition of riverbanks if they have been damaged.
My podcasts will take you down to the river bank in search of water voles, and explore some of the work we are doing to help protect water voles in the North East of Scotland. How does science sound now?
Explore this topic further
PROFILE
Jamie Urquhart
Water Vole Conservation Officer, North East Local Biodiversity Action Plan
I work for the Water Vole Project which is part of the North East Scotland Biodiversity Action Plan project. My work involves trying to help water voles by improving the places where they live and removing mink from the area. It means that I get to spend a lot of time walking by the river, but I have to keep accurate records of all the rafts to make sure we check them regularly.
I studied ecology at Aberdeen University and I have been lucky to be able to use this training in my work. I enjoy the mixture of practical work outdoors, and using science to help protect an important species from extinction in the UK.