European Water Vole (Arvicola amphibius) lives in freshwater wetlands across Northern Europe and Asia. It feeds on aquatic plants roots. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the European Water Vole
- They spend most of their lives on riverbanks, building burrows up to 74 m long in summer and 34 m in winter, which they line with storage chambers for food. These aquatic adaptations let them escape predators like mink and foxes, and keep them anchored to the riparian habitats they need for cover and foraging.
- Water voles claim up to 4 litters per year, each producing 4-6 young. With a gestation of just 21 days and weaning at three weeks, the population can explode during rich harvest periods, turning fields into "plagues" that strip grass and leave a maze of burrows. This boom-bust cycle makes them both a vital prey base and a costly agricultural pest.
- A water vole's dark brown coat blends perfectly with the dense vegetation along riverbanks, making it cryptic to both predators and observers. Their fur covers the entire tail, unlike rats, and their short, fuzzy ears. This camouflage and insulation allow them to thrive from lowland streams to Scottish lochs, where they remain hidden even under winter snow.
- A newborn water vole weighs only about 5 g, roughly the mass of a single grape, and opens its eyes after just five days. Within three weeks the young are weaned and by the time they are half the size of an adult. a wild lifespan of just five months.
- Adult water voles can tip the scales at up to 386 g, about the weight of a large apple, but most individuals fall between 70 and 250 g. Females need at least 112 g and males 115 g to survive winter and breed successfully.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
At a glance
RangeNorthern Europe and Asia
HabitatFreshwater wetlands
DietAquatic plants roots
About the European Water Vole
In the lush, emerald depths of Europe's wetlands, the water vole glides effortlessly, its sleek, chestnut-brown fur glistening with dew as it navigates the intricate network of aquatic pathways with a quiet confidence. With a twitch of its whiskers and a flick of its tail, this unassuming creature darts through the reeds, leaving behind a trail of subtle ripples that betray its otherwise stealthy presence. As it moves through its domain, the water vole embodies a serene and unhurried elegance, its very existence a testament to the enduring beauty of these fragile, watery worlds.
Hear the European Water Vole, and 4,400+ more
Real recorded sounds, 11 nature games and a free Daily 5, 1v1 quiz duels, conservation wins and a safe Kids mode. Free on Feravox.
