Positive coexistence of water voles and beaver: water vole expansion in a beaver engineered wetland

Abstract

Water voles (Arvicola amphibius) are critically endangered in Great Britain and there is a pressing need for successful conservation strategies. Meanwhile, another semi-aquatic rodent, the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) is being restored to much of its native range including Great Britain. Beavers are known as ecosystem engineers and keystone species, creating wetland habitats. As part of the River Otter Beaver Trial in South-West England, free-living beavers were reintroduced in a location where water vole were present and being surveyed. Here, we present survey data showing the expansion of water vole into newly beaver engineered wetland areas. We propose that complex beaver wetlands may benefit water vole populations by creating new habitat and providing refuge from predation, warranting further investigation as a nature recovery option.