Water Vole - Arvicola amphibius
Water Voles have a short hair-covered tail, a blunt, rounded nose, and a small chubby face with small ears. They have a rich chestnut-brown coat, but individuals in Scotland often have black fur. The fur traps air that provides thermal insulation when swimming, and they also possess flaps of skin in the ear that prevent water from entering.

Densely vegetated banks of slow flowing rivers, ditches, lakes and marshes where water is present throughout the year.
All Year Round
Water voles are herbivores, feeding on a huge variety of waterside vegetation and consuming 80 percent of their body weight each day. Each year between April and September, one to five litters consisting of three to seven blind, naked pups can be produced.
Rapid decline over decades has made the Water Vole much scarcer in Britain than previously.
Uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland.
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
Enter a town or village to see local records
MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015