Experts bid to
pave the way for Ratty's return
January 2013.
Conservationists in Northumberland are working on a plan which could result in
water voles being returned to 62,000 hectare (155,000 acre) Kielder Water
& Forest Park.
Wiped out by
mink
The endangered species was once a familiar sight in the Northumberland Forest until predatory mink invaded its stronghold and wiped out the population. The last local sightings of water vole go back to the 1970s.
The endangered species was once a familiar sight in the Northumberland Forest until predatory mink invaded its stronghold and wiped out the population. The last local sightings of water vole go back to the 1970s.
Now the
Forestry Commission has linked up with the Northumberland
Wildlife Trust and Tyne Rivers Trust to devise a two year project to
survey the forest to see if mink remain and to look for traces of lingering
water vole populations. Initial discussions have been held with the Heritage
Fund about potentially funding the work.
Mink
disappearing - Probably due to otters return
Mink numbers at Kielder are now thought to be very low with few being spotted by rangers in recent years. One reason for their decline may be the expanding otter population as the two species do not co-exist, although no one knows the mechanics of the frosty relationship.
Mink numbers at Kielder are now thought to be very low with few being spotted by rangers in recent years. One reason for their decline may be the expanding otter population as the two species do not co-exist, although no one knows the mechanics of the frosty relationship.
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