Potential importance of urban areas for water voles: Arvicola amphibius

Cities are not often considered priority areas for threatened mammals; however, recent research suggests that urban may be important water vole (Arvicola amphibius) conservation. To establish the potential importance of cities in supporting populations, we used National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas data to examine occurrence voles within United Kingdom (UK). Water were recorded 28 out 64 official UK last decade (2010–2018), and rivers streams parks, sports grounds, reserves most habitat types. In total, found 497 records sightings cities, representing 5.0% all this species NBN Atlas. Our results show indeed many suggesting populations more common than previously recognised. We therefore recommend these conservation should further established.