Otters are significant predators of water voles, creating complex welfare considerations in conservation areas where both species require active management.
The intersection of otter recovery and water vole conservation creates genuine welfare dilemmas. Water voles preyed upon by otters experience the fear and injury of a predation event — a real welfare harm to individual animals. Conservation managers must weigh water vole individual welfare against otter individual welfare when designing management strategies. Dense bankside vegetation that provides cover for water voles reduces predation vulnerability without requiring predator control, representing a welfare-sensitive approach that benefits both species. Where active otter management is considered to protect reintroduced water vole populations, welfare criteria for any exclusion or deterrence methods must be carefully assessed.