Arvicola Apr 2026

While often mistaken for rats, water voles have distinct features:

: They are expert "engineers," digging complex burrow systems into riverbanks. You can often find "lawns" of closely cropped grass around their burrow entrances. arvicola

The genus primarily refers to water voles , a group of large, semi-aquatic rodents found across Europe and northern Asia. The most well-known species is the European water vole ( Arvicola amphibius ), famous as the inspiration for "Ratty" in The Wind in the Willows . Key Characteristics & Identification While often mistaken for rats, water voles have

: Primarily herbivores, they eat grasses and aquatic plants, often leaving stems cut at a distinctive 45-degree angle . Conservation Status The most well-known species is the European water

: Typically 14–22 cm long with a tail of 9–14 cm, weighing between 150g and 300g.