Water Vole Arvicola amphibius

The Water Vole (Arvicola amphibius) has suffered one of the most severe declines of any British mammal over the past half-century, primarily due to predation by the introduced American Mink and the loss of suitable riparian habitat. In Suffolk, populations have declined dramatically, though targeted conservation work – including mink trapping programmes and habitat restoration – has helped sustain and, in some areas, recover populations. The Waveney Valley, the upper Deben, and coastal grazing marsh ditches support some of the county’s most important remaining populations. Continued mink control and the maintenance of well-vegetated, undisturbed bankside habitats are essential for the species’ future in Suffolk. Image: © Margaret Holland, Flickr.

Find out more: The Mammal Society, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, The People's Trust for Endangered Species, iNaturalist, Suffolk LNRS information page