Water vole (Arvicola terrestris)
	Description	Rounded face, chestnut brown fur, small ears, long hairy tail. Head and body length 140-220mm, weight 150-300g.
	Life cycle	Average life expectancy is only 5 months, but water voles have a high birth rate with 3-4 litters a year, usually of 5 young. Weaning takes place at only 14 days.
	Habitat	Banks of slow flowing rivers, ditches, dykes and lakes with good cover of vegetation. They use an extensive network of burrows with nest chambers and entrances underwater.
	Diet	Over 200 different types of grasses and greenplants are consumed by water voles, although not all would be present at any one location.
	Status
	Reserve	Water voles have been observed at the western end of the reserve.
	Britain	Pre-breeding population estimated at 1,169,000 and declining due to habitat loss, disturbance and increased predation from mink.