UK Wildlife

Water Vole Conservation and Mink Control

Water voles have suffered one of the most catastrophic declines of any UK mammal, primarily due to American mink predation, with active mink control being the primary conservation intervention.

Key Facts

Water vole declined by over 90% making it the UK's fastest declining mammal
American mink introduced for fur farming escaped and established feral populations
Mink can enter water vole burrows unlike otter, causing catastrophic local extinctions
Mink control through trapping allows water vole populations to recover rapidly
Reintroduction programmes have succeeded where mink control is maintained

Welfare Considerations

Water vole conservation requires sustained mink control, raising welfare dilemmas about killing introduced animals to protect native species. This is a genuine conservation welfare trade-off where the welfare of individual mink is weighed against population viability of water voles. Without control, water voles face local extinction.

What You Can Do

Support Wildlife Trust mink control and water vole reintroduction programmes
Advocate for river catchment management that includes mink control where water voles exist
Report water vole sightings to county wildlife trusts to inform conservation planning