The British Field Vole - A Tiny Foot Soldier in the Fight for Smaller-Scale Rewilding
The British Field Vole - A Tiny Foot Soldier in the Fight for Smaller-Scale Rewilding
Video: Why the British field vole is so important to rewilding projects - and rampant across LettsSafari parks.
The British field vole plays a crucial role in the ecosystem of the British Isles and has become a key species in rewilding initiatives. As one of the most common small mammals in the UK, the field vole is often found in grasslands, marshes, and heathlands, where it thrives in dense vegetation. They exist in large numbers across LettsSafari parks thanks to the wild grasses, scrub and marshland - and they attract key predators.
The video below follows a field vole in the heart of Exeter's Capability Brown gardens just 50 metres from where rare water voles have been reintroduced.
Despite its small size (adults measure about 10 to 12 centimetres in length and weigh between 20 to 40 grams) the field vole is a keystone species, meaning its presence supports a wide array of wildlife. It eats seeds, grass and leaves. Kind of like a micro leaf blower!
Having healthy numbers of field voles is a measure of the success and maturity of any rewilding project. Like fungi are nature's thermometer measuring the health of soil.
Field voles serve as an important food source for numerous predators. Species such as barn owls, kestrels, stoats, and weasels rely on them as a staple part of their diet. All these predators are active across LettsSafari parks . In fact, field voles make up nearly 40-60% of a barn owl's diet.
This direct dependence on voles demonstrates how their population density, which can reach up to 300 individuals per hectare during peak years, influences predator numbers. The boom-and-bust cycles of vole populations also create natural fluctuations in predator populations, making the vole’s role integral to the food web.
From an ecological perspective, field voles are also important for soil health. Their burrowing activity aerates the soil, promoting nutrient cycling and plant growth, which further enhances biodiversity. Their foraging habits create small-scale disturbances that allow a variety of plants to thrive, maintaining a mosaic of habitats essential for other small mammals and insects.
In rewilding projects, particularly in grassland restoration, the presence of field voles encourages natural predator-prey dynamics. The restoration of habitats where field voles thrive helps sustain wider trophic levels, facilitating the recovery of ecosystems without excessive human intervention. In areas where field voles have been reintroduced or protected, biodiversity has improved due to their role in supporting a balance of species.
The British field vole may be small, but its ecological significance is substantial. Its presence supports both predators and vegetation, making it a cornerstone in the drive for rewilding and habitat restoration across the UK. It broadens the impact of rewilding, turning a one way flow in a food chain into a web - a multi-flow food network. Just as it should be - truly wild and wonderful.
Get more LettsSafari updates and wildlife photos from our twitter. And read the latest posts at the LettsSafari + website.