Latest news with #EmilyLuck
BBC News
22-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Call for volunteers to spot endangered water voles
People are being encouraged to help spot water voles in ponds and streams because they are "Britain's fastest declining mammal".Water vole populations have declined by 90% due to habitat loss, fragmentation and becoming prey of the non-native American mink, according to wildlife charity People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES).Volunteers can choose from over 700 pre-selected riverbank sites across England, Scotland and Wales – or register a new site near year, 113 sites were surveyed across Britain with water voles found at 47 of them. "Water voles have the title of Britain's fastest declining mammal which is a pretty hard title to take on," said Emily Luck, water vole officer for told BBC Radio Sussex that populations had been affected by urbanisation, as well as becoming prey for the American mink which "developed a bit of a taste for water voles".Water voles are listed as endangered on the red list for Britain's mammals - but Sussex is said to be a stronghold, with five sightings across 15 sites last year. One of those sites is Birdham, near Chichester."We're looking for feeding signs, droppings and burrows," said Emily."We're also checking some of the ditches, it may look like a run-off ditch on the side of the road – but it might be producing lots of vegetation and shelter for water voles. They use these ditches as corridors."To be able to know where to do our work, we need to know where the water voles are - and where they are doing well or struggling."In the last 10 years, more than 2,000 sites have been surveyed by charity said this had helped with "encouraging signs" of localised recovery with small-scale population increases in areas where they have focused conservation efforts.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Public urged to help with water vole survey
People in Devon are being urged to take part in a national survey of water voles by a wildlife charity. The People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) is looking for volunteers for its National Water Vole Monitoring Programme, which runs until 15 June. Emily Luck, water vole officer at PTES said the "vole-unteers" would be asked to pick from a series of set walks and look for signs of water voles, such as burrows and "green and brown tic-tac-shaped" droppings. Ms Luck said the survey would "help guide conservation work". Ms Luck said the guinea pig-sized rodents, sometimes called water rats, were "one of the UK's most-charming little mammals". Water voles were thought to be extinct in the county as recently as the early 2000s. At one stage the species would have been found on "almost all rivers and waterways" but its population had declined by about 90% since the 1970s, giving it the "sad" title of Britain's fastest-declining mammal, Ms Luck said. As well as habitat loss caused by agriculture, one of the biggest reasons for the water vole's decline was "predation and habitat loss" by the American mink - a non-native species introduced by the fur trade. However, Devon has seen several projects in recent years to reintroduce the aquatic mammals to the county's rivers, wetlands and marshes. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Wildlife charity makes plea to protect water voles Water voles released into Devon river Water voles could be reintroduced to marshes People's Trust for Endangered Species
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Vole-unteers' sought to stem creature's decline
Volunteers are being sought to survey river banks as part of ongoing efforts to save Britain's fastest declining mammal. The People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) said the native water vole population has plummeted by 90% since the 1970s. It is asking for "vole-unteers" to check sites across the North East and Cumbria. The findings would be compared to previous years' numbers to determine where populations remain, or where they have been lost or need urgent help. The initiative runs from 15 April to 15 June and people can choose from more than 700 pre-selected river bank or stream sites, or a new one can be registered. They should then record any tell-tale signs of water vole presence, such as burrows, droppings, footprints or the characteristic "plop" as they enter the water. Emily Luck, Water Vole Officer at PTES, said: "Water voles hold the unfortunate title of Britain's fastest declining mammal and are listed as endangered on the Red List for Britain's Mammals, reflecting the seriousness of their decline. "The survey results show how populations are changing, where water voles remain and where they've been lost. "This is crucial as it allows us to understand how we can help by restoring degraded rivers, improving connectivity between wetlands and controlling invasive American mink." Last year, five sites in Cumbria were surveyed, with voles found at two - both near Haweswater Reservoir, where there has been a reintroduction project. However none were found to be present at the one County Durham site near Blanchland. PTES is keen to recruit volunteers in Northumberland and on Teesside where no sites were surveyed last year. Emily Luck said: "There are lots of pre-selected sites in both areas available to choose from, and, if none of these are close to where you live, you can register a new site too and be the first person to survey that area. "And, just because water voles weren't spotted last year, it doesn't necessarily mean they aren't in the area, they may well be and we simply don't know about it yet. "So, we really hope more folk across the north east can help by whiling away a few hours on a local riverbank looking for sightings and signs of this very special native species." Follow BBC North East on X and Facebook and BBC Cumbria on X and Facebook and both on Nextdoor and Instagram. Water voles brought back to the Lake District Pringles tubes help water voles' comeback People's Trust for Endangered Species
BBC News
13-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
'Vole-unteers' sought to stem rare mammal decline
Volunteers are being sought to survey river banks as part of ongoing efforts to save Britain's fastest declining People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) said the native water vole population has plummeted by 90% since the is asking for "vole-unteers" to check sites across the North East and findings would be compared to previous years' numbers to determine where populations remain, or where they have been lost or need urgent help. The initiative runs from 15 April to 15 June and people can choose from more than 700 pre-selected river bank or stream sites, or a new one can be should then record any tell-tale signs of water vole presence, such as burrows, droppings, footprints or the characteristic "plop" as they enter the water. Emily Luck, Water Vole Officer at PTES, said: "Water voles hold the unfortunate title of Britain's fastest declining mammal and are listed as endangered on the Red List for Britain's Mammals, reflecting the seriousness of their decline. "The survey results show how populations are changing, where water voles remain and where they've been lost. "This is crucial as it allows us to understand how we can help by restoring degraded rivers, improving connectivity between wetlands and controlling invasive American mink." Last year, five sites in Cumbria were surveyed, with voles found at two - both near Haweswater Reservoir, where there has been a reintroduction none were found to be present at the one County Durham site near Blanchland. PTES is keen to recruit volunteers in Northumberland and on Teesside where no sites were surveyed last Luck said: "There are lots of pre-selected sites in both areas available to choose from, and, if none of these are close to where you live, you can register a new site too and be the first person to survey that area."And, just because water voles weren't spotted last year, it doesn't necessarily mean they aren't in the area, they may well be and we simply don't know about it yet. "So, we really hope more folk across the north east can help by whiling away a few hours on a local riverbank looking for sightings and signs of this very special native species." Follow BBC North East on X and Facebook and BBC Cumbria on X and Facebook and both on Nextdoor and Instagram.
