Dry spell drives water voles from chalk stream

Water voles have disappeared from part of a chalk stream due to the dry weather, an expert has said.

Matthew Arnold, from the East Yorkshire Rivers Trust, said streams fed by the Yorkshire Wolds were a "lifeline" for wildlife, but water levels were as low as he could remember.

It meant voles were finding it harder to escape from predators in a section of the West Beck, at Wansford, near Driffield.

East Yorkshire is not officially in drought, but recorded just 0.8mm of rainfall in July, a record low, according to the Met Office.

Arnold said the long spell of dry weather was "really bad" for voles because holes in the bank, which the creatures use to hide from predators, had been exposed.

"Water voles are adapted to escape from predators by basically coming out under the water and escaping across the river to another set of holes," he said.

"They haven't got that at the moment because the levels are so low, so not only can their natural predators find them easier, but anything and everything can get down there. A stoat can follow them through, a weasel can follow them through.

"I've not seen a water vole on this section now probably for about three or four months."

He said voles would survive in the lower reaches of the river, where water levels are maintained.

"They only need a stronghold to work their way back out from as the population grows again.

"I'm concerned that they're missing, but I'm not concerned about the recovery.

"I've worked in this area since 1999 and I've seen the population fluctuate quite a lot over that time."

However, he said more house building and a growing population could put more pressure on the watercourse.

"I think we're going to see more of this, of these low flows," he added.

Meanwhile, at Burton Constable Hall, near Hull, fishing has been suspended due to the low level of the lake.

Jack Constable, who runs the park, said the water was as low as he could remember and they were pumping oxygen into the lake to help the fish breathe at night.

"We're just trying to look after all our fish and make sure they're not undergoing any undue stress, so we've paused fishing for a couple of weeks to see how we're doing and awaiting further advice," he added.

"It's been unprecedented, the heat. You can see the grass around is very yellow in the parkland.

"It seems like it hasn't rained forever and a day."

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