For some time now these water rats or brown rats have been living at this pond at a local park, the council have tried getting rid of them but to little success as they seem to think that they water voles?? hmmm, this morning these two were active around their holes in the bank.
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They look like rats to me. Rats can swim, too.
Kingfisher
Brilliant photos. I agree with Kingfisher, they look like rats, cute though aren't they.
For some time now these water rats or brown rats have been living at this pond at a local park, the council have tried getting rid of them but to little success as they seem to think that they water voles?? hmmm, this morning these two were active around their holes in the bank.
That's also been the demise of a number of Water Voles, people thinking they are Rats. I know local Pest controllers had to go on a Water Vole course to make sure they knew the difference.
Nice shots by the way.
Chris.
Thanks everyone for comments...i even showed the parks and leisure guy that came down to inspect the pond the images, much to my amazement he said they were definately voles!!!
Lol They are definitely rats! Esp the second one, the plumpness of the body gives them away, yet they can squeeze through the smallest of gaps!
Here's a rat:
and here's a water vole:
I'd say rat too, just look at the ears.
Lol They are definitely rats! Esp the second one, the plumpness of the body gives them away, yet they can squeeze through the smallest of gaps!
I agree, just look at this one:
Difinitely it is a rat!I can not tell any diference between the two animals
I am pretty sure we have one or the other near our pond (something small and grey/black raced over my foot and into the pond....to quick to really see what it was) we also have a bank sideways on in the garden which is no more than 10 m from the stream in the field behind us (I have assumed the huge amount of holes in the bank,compost heap,and the bank of the stream was caused by bank voles ........but having never seen anything(I have sat and watched the holes for hours) and the cats have never caught anything from that area (we think?) and at night you can hear THEM scratching around but no sightings
and more significantly no droppings!
roger.
Thanks everyone for comments...i even showed the parks and leisure guy that came down to inspect the pond the images, much to my amazement he said they were definately voles!!!
Isn't it ridiculous that someone should have the power to make decisions over something they know nothing about. Makes you wonder how deep into the public sector this goes.