Wetlands

A wetland is a place in which the land is covered by water, salt, fresh, or somewhere in between, either seasonally or permanently. It functions as its own distinct ecosystem. You can recognize wetlands from other types of land or bodies of water primarily by the vegetation that has adapted to wet soil, they are also humid environments. Lots of different animals live in wetlands.

Water voles

Water voles are the largest species of vole in Britain and are sometimes mistaken for brown rats, which can be found in a similar habitat. They are also sometimes commonly known as the water rat or water dog.

water vole description

Water voles have glossy brown or black fur and a blunt muzzle with small, black eyes. Their ears are rounded and almost hidden, and they have a dark, slightly furry tail. They are mostly active during the day, sitting on their hind feet and feeding on grass stalks held in their front paws.

etemology

The word vole originated in approximately 1805, and is short for vole-mouse, which means field mouse. Vole originated from the Norwegian word vollmus; voll, meaning field, and mus, meaning mouse. It is also possible that there were influences from Swedish vall, which translates to mean field.

variants

There are about 3 types of water voles that exist! they are super cute right? well get ready to be badazzled by cuteness!

European water vole

The European water vole or northern water vole, is a semi-aquatic rodent. It is often informally called the water rat, though it only superficially resembles a true rat.

southwestern water vole

The southwestern water vole or southern water vole is a large amphibious vole native to most of France and southwestwards through Spain and Portugal. It is listed on the IUCN Red List as vulnerable.

montane water vole

The montane water vole (Arvicola scherman ) is a species of vole found throughout Europe, from the mountains of northern Spain through central Europe and eastwards through to central Romania.

Credit: https://www.smallmammalgroup.com/mammal-of-the-month/field-vole

diet

did you know that Water voles need to eat up to 80% of their own body weight every day? they do that in order to stay healthy. Their diet consists of mainly grasses and waterside plants, with also some twigs, bulbs, roots and fallen fruit. ( credits to google )

Credit: https://www.theculinarypro.com/dried-legumes-cooking-methods

tubers

Tubers are plant parts that are enlarged to form storage containers that the plants use to hold nutrients that allow them to feed their offspring or to survive through the winter. There are two basic types of tubers: root tubers and stem tubers. Common examples of tubers include potatoes, cassava, and dahlias.

Credit : http://umphrey.net/fallen-fruit/

fallen fruit

Fallen fruit is basically fruit that has fallen before the ripening of the fruit. Water voles eat fallen fruit as it is a part of their diet, it should be nutritious to the vole because it is part of their main diet.

Credit:https://www.finedininglovers.com/article/root-vegetables

roots

Did you know that water voles eat plants? it is a part of their diet. But sometimes water voles can be a total problem! when you live near the wetlands, they sometimes tunnel through people's backyards and consume tons of grass , which results people's ruined and uneven lawns ( and if you have plants, water voles would consume the entire plant too!)

Page updated

Report abuse