Pringles tubes help water voles' comeback

In a remarkable effort to restore the population of water voles, over 100 of these charming creatures have been successfully relocated to the Nene Wetlands Nature Reserve in Northamptonshire. This initiative involved the innovative use of recycled Pringles tubes, which served as the perfect transport containers for the voles. The Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs, and Northants played a crucial role in this project, releasing a total of 116 water voles that had been bred in captivity. Conservation manager Matt Johnson expressed his excitement about witnessing these voles returning to their natural habitat after their numbers had drastically declined. Water voles, once abundant in the region, have faced severe threats due to habitat destruction and the presence of invasive species like the mink. As a result, the water vole population in Northamptonshire has been reduced to just a few isolated colonies, with no sightings in the Nene Wetlands area since the year 2000. This release was made possible through funding and licensing from Natural England, which is dedicated to species recovery efforts. The hope is that this project will mark the beginning of a larger population of water voles that can expand throughout the county. The process of releasing the voles involved careful planning. They were transported in cages and placed into specially designed pens located near water sources. For a week, the voles were fed daily to help them adjust to their new surroundings. Once the week was over, the pens were opened, allowing the voles to venture out and explore the wild. Mr. Johnson remarked, 'It’s fantastic to see water voles return to the Nene Wetlands – we hope that this is the start of their comeback in the county. ' He noted that when the Wildlife Trust took over the reserve more than ten years ago, one of their main goals was to reintroduce water voles to the area. It is truly thrilling to see them emerging from their Pringles tubes and reclaiming their rightful place in the wild. Furthermore, Mr. Johnson emphasized the importance of careful planning and management in reintroducing species to ensure that the new arrivals have a healthy habitat to thrive in. In addition to the water voles, another exciting development is on the horizon, as a family of beavers is set to be released into the Nene Wetlands later this autumn. This will take place at Delta Pit, which is conveniently located near the Rushden Lakes shopping center.