Ea Beck Water Vole Project

Ea Beck is a tributary of the River Don which suffered greatly in the floods of 2007. As well as the considerable property impact caused by the flood, the local population of water vole, already vulnerable from increased mink predation in the area, was left with nowhere to disperse to and perished in large numbers. This project will establish off-line refugia for the species, creating more variation in suitable habitat and thus mitigating against similar future impacts on the local population. These new habitats will also provide refugia against the linear predation habits of the American mink. The project will also tackle the threat of predation by American mink and will advise landowners on sustainable ditch and river bank management.