Should the good practice guidance for water vole surveys be updated?

oin the CIEEM Academia SIG for the June edition of their monthly discussion events. We will be hearing about … Finding Ratty: how do the outcomes of alternative methods to detect the presence of water vole (Arvicola amphibius), compare to results obtained from traditional field sign surveys? Should the good practice guidance for water vole surveys be updated? Water vole populations have declined dramatically over recent decades, due to habitat loss and predation by non-native American mink. Water vole are a protected species, identified as under threat and in need of conservation action. To protect remaining populations, and target resources for habitat restoration and mink control, water vole surveys are essential to identify where water vole occur, to estimate how abundant they are and to monitor the progress and outcomes of water vole conservation strategies. This research is the first simultaneous multi-method comparison of survey techniques for detecting water vole, which seeks to contribute to the existing knowledge base and best practice guidance for water vole surveys. The research compared the outcomes of four alternative methods to detect water vole: artificial latrine floating rafts, artificial latrine baited pipe tubes, conservation detection dog surveys and aquatic eDNA samples, with the results of good practice field sign surveys, at seven sites across Yorkshire. The choice of survey method needs to be an accurate, viable and cost-effective option, depending on the time and resources available, considering the requirements, advantages and limitations of each technique. This event will discuss the results and conclusions of the research and whether the good practice guidance for water vole surveys should be updated to reflect and include alternative survey techniques. Kathryn is a Biodiversity Technical Specialist based in Yorkshire. She has worked for the Environment Agency for 22 years moving into the Fisheries, Biodiversity and Geomorphology team in 2019. Kathryn completed an MSc in Land & Ecological Restoration in 2024 undertaking research on water vole survey methods for her dissertation. She is the Environment Agency’s lead for Water Vole in Yorkshire and manages the Yorkshire Water Vole Project, which aims to protect and restore the region’s remaining populations of water vole via a coordinated programme of mink eradication, water vole surveys and habitat restoration.