VWTImpactReport28Oct2025PT - Flipbook - Page 12
©Frank Greenaway
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Otters and water voles
What is VWT’s impact?
Otters
VWT’s work was instrumental in reversing the decline
of the European otter in Britain so that otters are found
once again in every river catchment. VWT’s national
surveys, developed to address the evidence gap on otters,
were the most extensive single-species surveys in the
world. As the 昀椀rst comprehensive picture of distribution,
they revealed steep declines in otter populations across
Britain, particularly southern and eastern England, and
helped bring national attention to the otter’s plight,
making it a 昀氀agship species for freshwater conservation.
Repeated surveys provided evidence to obtain stronger
legal protections for otters and their habitats, including
a ban on organochlorine pesticides, and were instrumental
in the recovery of the species.
©Frank Greenaway
VWT worked with others to design, test and manufacture
effective guards for eel fyke nets to eliminate accidental
drowning of otters in 昀椀sh and crustacean traps. The guards
were then distributed free of charge. This preventative
method is now a legal requirement to prevent accidental
death of otters as bycatch. VWT also established Otter
Havens in otter strongholds, which protected stretches of
ideal habitat, allowing populations to recover and expand
naturally. Over ten years, VWT conducted one of the 昀椀rst
successful otter reintroductions by releasing rehabilitated
otters back into areas with fragile populations, which
resulted in increased breeding and population expansion
in these catchments. Otters are now classed as Least
Concern in England but Vulnerable in Scotland and Wales
due to a lack of detailed data.
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Vincent Wildlife Trust 50 Years Impact Report 2025
Water voles
VWT’s water vole surveys provided the 昀椀rst national
population baseline, highlighting areas of stronghold
populations and areas of severest declines. They also
identi昀椀ed habitat requirements, such as dense bankside
vegetation and unpolluted waterways, along with habitat
restoration and management strategy recommendations.
The surveys also gave early warnings of the impacts of
mink predation. Following the 昀椀rst survey, the water vole
was given legal protection in 1998 under the 1981 Wildlife
and Countryside Act and further protection in England and
Wales in 2008.
Why is there a need?
Following a gradual decline due to the combined effects
of habitat loss, pollution, predator control and hunting,
the once widespread Eurasian otters underwent a
sudden, catastrophic decline in Britain in the 1950s.
This dramatic decline was due to secondary poisoning
from organochlorine pesticides.
Water voles are listed Endangered overall on the Red
List for Britain’s Mammals, Endangered in England and
Wales, and Near Threatened in Scotland. Populations
declined due to habitat loss, agricultural intensi昀椀cation,
and predation by the invasive American mink. A 1998
estimate suggested a 78% decline since 1995 and the
2018 Red List review suggests a further 50% decrease
since 1998. Their 2018 range was around 168,000km2
with a declining population size (132,000).
