Student Peter Cooper in mission to save water voles

But the mischievous Ratty and his kin have faced a far tougher life in wild than in the idyllic Kenneth Graham book.

Water vole populations have plummeted so far in the last four decades that on rare sightings many mistake them for rats.

Now a Hampshire naturalist is spearheading a mission to help save the endangered species in one of their last county strongholds.

Peter Cooper has launched an appeal for nature lovers to help him survey water voles living in the Fishlake Meadows area of Romsey.

Zoology student Peter Cooper is asking for people to photograph and report their sightings of the mammals in the Fishlake Meadows to support a database he is drawing up with the Romsey and District Society.

An illustration from the Wind in the Willows.

The species’ numbers have plunged 90 per cent since the 1980s – decimated by intensive farming, urban development and their most feared predators, American mink.

They are still surviving in small communities on the River Test and on the River Itchen – which is a national stronghold.

Surveys suggest their numbers are shrinking in Fishlake Meadows and Peter is keen to find out why.

He says the wetland, which is tipped to become a nature reserve, could support up to 200 of them but sightings are becoming rarer.

The 21-year-old, who lives in Whitenap, said: “A few decades ago you could walk along there and see dozens of them, but now you are lucky to see one.

“Nationwide, these scattered pockets of voles are few and for an animal that used to and should be a very common sight along our watercourses, this is just not acceptable.

“Knowledge is the foundation to any efficient conservation strategy, which is why, if anyone has seen a water vole or signs of their presence in the Romsey area I would like to receive the information.”

The creatures live in waterside burrows which are crucial in shaping riverside environments – while their presence provides food for other predators in the ecosystem.

Peter believes the Fishlake voles are being affected by housing developments in the wider area resulting in a surge of rat numbers.

The two are distinguishable by water voles’ bodies, blunt faces, small eyes and ears and hairy tails, compared to much lither, wide-eyed, wide-eared and worm-like tailed rats.

Rats’ heads only break the water surface when swimming, but voles’ upper bodies float above the waterline flitting about like furry wind-up toys.

He has also been helping conservation experts Derek Gow Consultancy with captive breeding and reintroduction of the species into wetlands in Cornwall.

• Sightings can be reported to pc344@exeter.ac.uk, including photographs, dates, times and locations.