Bumper year for threatened 'Ratty'.SIGHTINGS of water voles, the UK's fastest declining mammal, on Britain''s canals have doubled. The water vole vole, name for a large number of mouselike rodents, related to the lemmings. Most range in length from 3 1-2 to 7 in. (9–18 cm) and have rounded bodies with gray or brown coats, blunt muzzles, small ears concealed in the long fur, and short tails. , immortalised as 'Ratty' in The Wind in the Willows, joins nearly 300 different species of birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects and other mammals that have been spotted making their homes on Britain's inland waterways this year. Rare butterflies, otters, an alligator snapping turtle were among the less common of the 42,500 sightings recorded - even a porpoise porpoise, small whale of the family Phocaenidae, allied to the dolphin. Porpoises, like other whales, are mammals; they are warm-blooded, breathe air, and give birth to live young, which they suckle with milk. was spotted by a passing boater earlier this year along the River Ouse near Selby. It was a good year for sightings of the survey's focus species, the bumblebee bumblebee: see bee. bumblebee Any member of two genera constituting the insect tribe Bombini (family Apidae, order Hymenoptera), found almost worldwide but most common in temperate climates. Bumblebees are robust and hairy, average about 0. , as a warm start to summer meant that a healthy number were spotted taking advantage of waterside wild flowers. Jonathan Hart-Woods, environment manager for British Waterways, said: "The appearance of such a wide range of wildlife is generally accepted as a key indicator of a healthy ecosystem. "Maintaining suitable habitats is a big part of our work and each year we're involved in different conservation projects to preserve and encourage wildlife to the waterways. Barn owl nesting boxes have also been introduced in order to increase bird populations." |
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