Restoring Ratty – Bringing the water vole back to Kielder, Northumberland
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- Monitoring points:
- Species observations:
Test project
No
Project summary
UK’s fastest declining mammal, with a 97% range loss over the last 30 years. This is largely due to predation by the introduced American mink Neovison vison. Remaining populations of water voles are fragmented and geographically isolated. This project had the aim to reintroduce and reinforce populations of water voles locally extinct in Northumberland.
Overall aim
Create a sustainable population of water voles in Kielder Water & Forest Park;
Ensure that no mink settle in the project area;
Create a 10km mink monitoring network from nearest water vole population;
Work towards the long-term aim of connecting new population to donor population in the North Pennines
Ensure that no mink settle in the project area;
Create a 10km mink monitoring network from nearest water vole population;
Work towards the long-term aim of connecting new population to donor population in the North Pennines
Name of species translocated
Arvicola amphibius
How many species?
1
Monitoring form type
Translocation generic records
Project timeline
The project started in 2016 where individuals from North Pennines, North Yorkshire and the Trossach were translocated to Kielder Water and Forest Park. It was reported that between 2016-2022 the project reintroduced 2,200 Water Vole to Kielder Water and Forest Park.
Funding body
National Lottery Heritage Fund (NHLF)
Project lead
Graham Holyoak and Kelly Hollings
Project team - organisational or group members
Graham Holyoak and Kelly Hollings
Translocation aims
Species recovery (restoration to all or part of a species’ range)
Reinstating/enhancing ecosystem function
Country
England
Region or locality
Kielder Water and Forest Park
External links
Species
Species benefits
Improved national status of species
Improved genetic diversity of species
Increased numbers of populations
Scientific benefits
Improve translocation practice