50 of the threatened mammals were released into the river a year ago following a 90% “population crash” across the UK since the 1970s.
South East Rivers Trust has set up cameras that have captured the water voles displaying natural behaviours.
They’ve revealed burrows in the riverbanks, feeding remains and vegetation chewed at a characteristic 45-degree angle.
Laura Nee, Catchment Officer at the South East Rivers Trust, said:
“It’s wonderful to see how excited local people are to have water voles living on their doorstep. Residents often stop to tell me about hearing the tell-tale ‘plop’ of something entering the water and wondering whether a vole is nearby.
“Although water voles can be difficult to spot, our monitoring with Citizen Zoo is giving us an encouraging picture of how they are settling in. Camera traps have captured a continuous flow of images showing the voles displaying natural behaviours, while recent surveys have found signs of their presence both upstream and downstream, including latrines, feeding remains and burrows in the riverbanks.
“A year after the reintroduction, it’s incredibly exciting to see evidence that the water voles are thriving and making the Hogsmill their home.”
The water voles were bred by Wildwood Trust, which specialises in conservation breeding and the recovery of native species.
