Water Vole Restoration Project on Kirkcudbrightshire Dee / Fleet

The water vole is a threatened native animal, having undergone a dramatic decline from habitat degradation / fragmentation, combined with predation by American mink. Water voles are a Local Biodiversity Species for conservation, as well as Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species under UK BAP. The project will train, co- ordinate and provide trapping equipment to individuals on 2 river catchments where low numbers of water voles are known to be present and mink predation to be a concern. The project will provide: Practical training and information on signs of wetland mammals, as well as their habitat requirements, and how this can be achieved. Co-ordinated, sustainable and cost effective mink control equipment to those interested in carrying out trapping. To obtain records of water mammals which can be collated by D &G Environmental Resources Centre Update and enhance records of water voles, in order to inform future priorities for work Less mink