We released 204 water rats & they've gone absolutely wild
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- čas přidán 3. 05. 2024
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Those mentioned in the video
www.kernowconservation.org/
trelusbackfoundationforwildli...
www.watervoles.com/
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robdymott@gmail.com - Věda a technologie
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Wascthat the species of Rat in "The Wind in the Willows"?
Is there anything I can do to help besides donating? Are you looking for volunteers?
I thought water rats were a problem..
@@ChrisCokeRobinson You hear the word rat and you immediately think problem. Why do people hate rats so much? I'm not even sure these are actual rats.
There are several rewilding project. You reported about beaver releasing too.
Are the waterdogs and beavers competitors to each others?
“What is my purpose?”
“You feed owls.”
“Oh. My. God.”
I see what you did there lol
No they LIVE
THAT is their ourpose
No living being is an object
@@cosmicreef5858 Every living being is food for another living being.
There is purpose beyond life.
@@cosmicreef5858sit down unc it was a joke
@@cosmicreef5858 tell that to their predators lol
Thank you for covering this project Rob! It is amazing to see how quickly they have spread :) - Cheers, Duarte
yoooo
Alongside the venerable beaver, these little creatures can return our biodiversity and natural health.
Yeah exactly, two key species for our wetlands, which we need more of!
Yes absolutely!
Modern agriculture is one of the most destructive factors to ecology across much of the earth. Together with destruction of habitat for creating spaces and roads for humans. It all ties into our overpopulation. Modern forestry as well, to cut down whole areas instead of plucking out trees. I don’t know how we can avoid global ecological disaster. Our best chance would actually be to help out the poorest populations in Africa and Asia so they don’t need or want so many children, but that would mean sharing our wealth in the west and keep corruption out both here and there. I do love every effort to help species and habitats though, thank you ❤.
I've retired now, but when I was kid I'd fish the river Frome along the Chalford valley. Water voles were everywhere munching away on reeds and rushes. I loved to see them but pretty much took them for granted. Then one day I found a dead Swan cygnet that had been half devoured by something
A couple of days later, nearby, I saw my first mink skulking along the far bank. Since then the Valley has died. The river and canal have all but dried up, the millions of sticklebacks are gone, the trout have all but disappeared and you no longer hear any munching water voles. Sad times indeed.
You can thank the anti-fur brigade for your Mink introduction. They used to raid the Mink farms and let the bloody things free without giving a thought to the consequences. They're the same sort of people that think its no big deal to have a cat and let it free to go around decimating the local small mammals and birds.
Welcome to liberal thinking where its illegal to keep your own local wildlife as pets. But legal to important animals from other countries. Because they cannot sustain themselves in your country is the logic. The sad truth is life is not so simple. Every western country is experiencing this failed concept due to law drafted in the early 1900s. Including many invasive species wrecking out ecosystems in the US as well. Practically all animals explode in population in human care. The cost is your local wildlife.
Wow, you saw it all happening!
I remember hanging out by the small river near our village, lying on overhanging branches and watch the water rats swim by majestically. Peaceful days, long ago.
I think as well as congratulating Mossy Earth, a hearty congratulations needs to go to the land owner for allowing this project to happen. Here in Australia we need to have private sector teams such as this, we absolutely need it!
Have you heard of Nature Glenelg Trust. They do really similar work in Australia. They don't do videos but their newsletter shows off the fantastic work they do with landscape restoration etc
When there was wildfires in Australia, did they asked a permit to go through private lands? When humans shit on a planet, they dont ask permit to create bad... why they need one to create good?
Back in the 60’s, as a child I “rescued” a water vole and suffered the same to my finger. I thought it was my friend 🤭
I get regular voles in my garden and sometimes they get caught in the divot by my window, so I have to rescue them. Glad I ended up grabbing my carving (knife protection) gloves to do it, cuz lil guys are vicious!
I love to see these continuation- or update videos of projects that have been going on for years :) It's so rewarding to see
Oh for sure, sometimes it takes a few years to really see change :)
They're actually called water voles, the word "water rat" refers exclusively to the genus Hydromys, water voles are members of the hamster family, while the water rats are part of the old world mouse and rat family.
Does the name water rats cause unjust negative publicity? They were very widespread when I was a child and it’s lovely to see them thriving.
Most likely. In Australia, we have similar rodents who used to also be called water rats, but an Aboriginal name for them, rakali, was adopted because of the negative connotation with the name water rat
I always knew them as water voles and it was a delight when we could spot one on the rare occasion.
After seeing this channel, www.youtube.com/@ShadowTheRat rats no longer have negative connotations for me.
I think the video title is designed to get clicks from people wondering why someone would release rats into the environment. They're usually called voles, not rats.
NYC ruined rats for me
That bite looked horrible, they have such sharp teeth.
Glad you are giving them a new chance in living in a great habitat.
Thanks guys 👍💪✌
I spent a couple of months putting out food for a water vole I'd see by the River Barrow here in Carlow Ireland 🇮🇪,
then I found out we don't have water voles in Ireland, so I guess I'd just been feeding a rat.
Hell yeah man :) little Remmy was mighty pleased with you
think of it like this! You generated that rats fat offspring times X amount by feeding it and giving it an edge, so you've actually fed plenty of larger predators in the absence of the water vole. Some hawke or owl was undoubtedly happy you got confused sometime down the line
Most of our farms have become agricultural factories, instead of a place that farms life for life.
That’s happened in the US as well. It’s Agribusiness and it’s criminal what Agribusiness has done to family farms and to so many of our animals and their habitats. .
Really enjoyed the presenter's enthusiasm. It seemed really genuine
:) well it be wrong to fake it!
Hoping to see them on the River Dart wetlands
That make the area even more epic, I’m not sure if they’re close by or not
Reading Enid Blyton's Children of Cherry Tree Farm, and it seems we've got a lot less habitat and species than we used to have.
Here in Australia we have the Rakali, a water rat which is a real character. I have had one attack and steal a perch I was reeling in. They are always on the lookout for a feed, and bread and worms are high on their list of favourites, so I have to watch my bait while fishing, or lose it 😄
I just googled them and oh my god they're beautiful!
@@tylociraptor8131 I have a couple of vids, including the one that gave me a tug of war over the perch lol and one begging handouts and getting hand fed.
@@AndrewFishmanI would love to see that!
@@SchoolforHackers you can
:)
@@AndrewFishman 😂 Did you get your lure back?
This is great news! Ive heard there's successful trapping of mink in Norfolk and Suffolk, will water voles be reintroduced there as well? Thanks for these updates, so happy to be a Mossy Earth member.
Should think so yes!!
@thomvarey There is no need, water voles are recovering on their own. I work for a project called Waterlife Recovery Trust, as lead project officer for Norfolk, and so far this year we have not caught any mink in either Norfolk or Suffolk, with only 7 in Norfolk and 4 in Suffolk caught last year. Prior to that we would catch several and even though Waterlife Recovery Trust is a fairly new charity we have had a mink control program running in Norfolk and Suffolk for over 20 years, so we have been able to stop mink completely wiping out the water voles here, and because of the efforts of many volunteers over those years those surviving water voles are now rapidly spreading on their own. We record all sites with water voles and the map is showing their population spread very well.
Reintroduction of water voles is only really needed if there are no close colonies which can then spread once mink are removed, it can also not be beneficial to reintroduce water voles into an area where there might be other water vole colonies because you can dilute the genetics of those colonies, the genetics of local colonies can vary quite a lot from place to place.
If you google Waterlife Recovery Trust you can find out lots of info.
water voles are naturally recolonising norfolk + suffolk due to the mink trapping going on there so doubt they will be reintroduced... best to follow the water life trust to see their mink eradication project there
I wonder if calling them voles in the title would get better engagement or worse, because people universally hate rats.
I would say using Vole would have been more beneficial to the video, Water Rat is a minority common name, not often used personally i've never heard it used in person, Water vole is a apt name that Water rat needs never be used, after all true Voles and kin and true Rats and kin, are of two totally different families. Using Vole definitely wouldn't be worse, people are more inclined to see Voles as cute over Rats (although Rats don't deserve the negative just for being successful), also there's people that don't even know what Voles are and there curiosity of finding out what they are could make them watch. Using the Word Rat may make some people that skim read, see Rat and move on.
yeah great question, there's so much to consider when writing titles & making thumbnails. this and coming up with ideas is a huge part of making videos. generally speaking, a title should use words that can be recognized by a wide variety of people, create emotion & most importantly spark curiosity. with this one, we tested the water rat concept at mossy earth & it worked very well - so far this video is doing great for leave curious too - CTR is better when compared to other videos.
as for the negativity around rats and that putting people off, I don't agree with it. much like wolves had been portrayed in the past as villains, I think it is wrong to villianise rats.
Donated to this project when it was first launched, glad to see them thriving, love water voles ❤
Thanks for the donation, it makes it all possible :)
Love Voles. Theyre a very underrated animal. Wonder if the reintroduction of other predators would kill and eat the mink. Those so called work gloves are useless ive never done any work with them when i didnt get spiked lol. Ready made landfill.
Yeah that be interesting to see what could get them… an ye gloves are hopeless.
@@LeaveCurious Think in Yellowstone they found the wolves ate them. But I guess that wouldn't be realistic lol
@@ajaxtelamonian5134 otters will compete with and sometimes kill the invasive american mink. But the only really reliable way of controlling them is trapping to prevent their spread. It’s not just water voles they kill but native fish, threatened waterbirds and amphibians
Good to see all update. The whole area looks to be thriving.
Congratulations! It must be a rewarding feeling to see your hard work pay off so successfully.
Well Done to everyone involved!
Well done to everyone. Thank you
These are just up the road/river from me- about 4 miles away. I didn't realise they had made it so far from the release site- I'm going to have to go and look for poo piles
It still amazes me that humans see and treat animals as if they are useless toys for nature. Every single animal serves a purpose even if it is to be eaten by other animals. Every single animal has a purpose to serve in the connection of life.
Well done mossy earth will have to keep an eye on them.!
Its great to see this crucial species getting spread through out waterways and doing well. Good job Rob and Mossy Earth backers
Superb update Rob. Thanks On behalf of water voles everywhere, thanks for giving a new release the opportunity to practise it's defence mechanisms in safety!
Two years .... already?? Doesn't seem possible it was that long ago
.
I have absolutely no idea how two years have already passed since the release. Crazy times
Where I grew up in Fife, there were lots of water voles, stiklebacks, small trout, minnows, caddice flies and lots of green weed. Now the local streams (burns in Scotland) are clear, effluent stinking and dead.
There's lots of green weed here 😎
Wow, two years? Time really does fly. I’m glad to see that the voles are fulfilling their roles in their ecosystems to bring back the natural balance in a land that was so heavily influenced by man that it no longer holds the memory of what it once was. Therefore, the work done here is critical for not only the entire British isle, but to the entire world, as well. Keep up the good work.
Lean hard on the Wind in the Willows connection.
Back in the 60s as a young kid, these voles were everywhere on the River Dean in Woodford Cheshire, unfortunately now never seen one😢
Such good news about these little animals. If you read Derek Gow's excellent book, "Birds, Beasts and Bedlam", you will find quite a lot more about them. I hope that the mink trapping programme is extended to allow the voles to move further afield. Of course, there will need to be a lot of work done on Britian's disgustingly polluted waterways, too. Start petitioning the Labour Party now!
As a new Mossy Earth member this pleases me to see
I live in Arizona in the American southwest. 🌵 This environment is pretty much the opposite of that lush, well-watered ex-farm. However, you guys solved a puzzle I had.
I wondered why I would find a spot in the yard with droppings when nowhere else had any.
Apparently other creatures use “latrines” to mark territory. I don’t know which creature is doing this, though. I get rabbits, squirrels, and the occasional pack rat.
I love this work people are doing, it warms my heart to see species brought back to where they belong and all the benefits that come with that.
I remember these little fella's everywhere around the Village I live in, lots of little streams and then a bridge over the bye pass was built and they vanished very quickly! so sad!
How in-vole-uble to the environment. You guys rule
Good one!
Have been following for years. You are truly coming into your own in reporting and sharing of knowledge and experience. Thanks as always for all ya'll do
thanks :)
Didn’t know about these lil guys till I saw a video from Mossy Earth on water voles- but these creatures are amazing, I’m so happy you guys are working to bring them back:))
Keep it rolling :-) !
Will do !
thanks for letting us know not to attempt giving them dental inspections THANK YOU for looking after them
This is amazing and congratulations to everyone involved!
Also I'm 80% sure I spotted a water vole at the lake in Ferry Meadows in Peterborough so yay!
Lovely video Rob, great to see the voles doing so well in Cornwall.
Great project! Well done everyone. I’m happy to be a Mossy Earth supporter 👍
The most exciting thing is seeing the way their prescence will begin to affect the whole system - the changing composition of waterway flora, the increased number of predators etc
We have some here in VIC AUS which are also endangered. I caught one in a fishing net once and was convinced it was a platypus as their webbed feet are identical but it turned out being a rat which I immediately let back out. It was a great experience nonetheless.
the water voles are so incredibly cute! lovely footage of them enjoying their environment. it’s brings me joy to think of these creatures building their burrows, swimming and eating (and being eaten), fulfilling their role in an ecosystem that’s missed them.
Thanks!
Wonderful and crucial work y'all are doing. Wishing you success in all these endeavors❤👍
Is this the species of 'the Wind in the Willows' Ratty?
Yes it is!
Wonderful update, thank you!!!
Keep Rewilinding people , and donate where you cant or simply leave your grass long if you cant donate!
Love Mossy Earth projects!
Well you know what they say no good deed goes unpunished.
Great channel!! Keep up the great work. Please bring some water voles to Reading!
It is a progression. Higher yields per acre translates to fewer acres needed to feed everyone. And when the UK struggled to feed itself…
Nothing is progressive if it’s not regenerative
I think the UK could feed itself but the public expect too variety and have become spoilt. plus a lot is exported and there would be the income loss.
Most of the land is used to feed animals, not humans, and then we eat some of the animals, a very inefficient food chain. Look, I like my bacon and sausages as much as anybody, but it's just not sustainable. You can better make more greenhouses to produce lots of food on small acres and eat more fruits and plants. (I won't become a vegan though, I will take the middle route and eat less meat but not nothing.
It’s lovely to see the populations recovering with a little TLC 🥰
yellow flag iris seems to be incredibly dominant and kinda out of control in many ponds and riversides I see so it's interesting to hear that water voles used to help control these plants
Where I used to go birdwatching in the 1970's, Water Voles used to be 10 a penny - all over the shop (West Tilbury marshes, Essex). With the Mink it's funny how you just say 'They got loose' without saying how... The majority of them were let loose by people who disagreed with them being bred for making mink coats and instead of going about things the right way they chose to raid the Mink farms and let the things free. Anyone at the time who actually cared about animals knew that the release of the Mink would have an impact. Once I started working I no longer went walking around the marshes, so as far I know, there may be loads of them still there? But I do recall as my birdwatching days come to an end I did start seeing Mink in the area. Other than that the farming practice in the area is very similar. I should go and have a look .
love the followup
so cool
Yup :) nice when it works out
i would probably have agreed with them at the time (when i was young) but how silly.... it was the animal rights people who released the mink hey!!! There were loads of water voles on the River Derwent in Yorkshire when i was young, until the mink arrived.
Great update Rob
I love your presenting style and video format and structure! Keep making these please :)
Ah thanks very much. I’ve been focused a lot on developing the format lately, so I appreciate the feedback!
I used to see them all the time when i was a lad, but then there were otters on the river i fished.
What can I do to help around my area? {Ireland}
Talk about rewilding with your friends and community, be active in the spaces that you own and try and get a group project going with neighbours and like minded others - I’ll make a vid on this
Planting native flowers and berries in your gardens to help the wildlife is a good idea. Setting out a butterfly wateringhole. Cutting back on using pesticides that are harmful.
Great video! Thank you.
Great work!
i love the explanation of the ecological impact they have. great video!
Great update Rob, a pleasure to have you here again!
Saw one of these round where I live (thought it was a fat rat). In just few years they have expanded past the wildlife reserve they were released into and seem to be well fed to say the least :)
Great information thank-you. We haven't had any tree talks for a while please could we have one 🌳
This is so informative! Great job, fantastic reporting!🌻🌼🐝 Keep it up 🙌
lol and sympathy on the bite…I had a pet hamster who bit my finger to the bone…rodents can be bitey! Wonderful work. Congrats from the USA.
Love the updates!
Love this channel and being a member
As a Canadian, I've never heard of water voles. They remind me a bit of muskrats here in North America (though voles look to be a lot smaller) who occupy something like the same ecological niche.
It's Ratty!!! did you find his little boat, the Mole????
If I had money to spend, ESPECIALLY if I was rich, THIS is the type of thing that I would donate to. That said, I have no money, but I love what you do! And will strive to do the same for my local species and nature in general. Thriving nature is my favorite thing to experience.
Beaver reintroduction will help the water voles. Beavers will not tolerate mink in their areas because they prey on their babies. In North America muskrats will actually share Beaver lodges.
Thank you!!!!
Here in the Southern US, our water rat is the Nutria. Fertile and extremely destructive--cities regularly have hunts to eradicate them. Good Luck.
Saw one of these whilst hiking along a river on Dartmoor, scared the life outta me
Great video, it had me researching water vole UK & muskrat. UK released voles b/c of US mink; US areas lost wild mink, booming muskrat population, causing a negative impact. Thus, crazy as it sounds, US trained mink to help control muskrat overpopulation. (Joseph Carter, the Mink man)
Their Czech name is Hryzec, which rougly translates to "the bitter" - as in "to bite", not the bitter taste. Seems like a more fitting name to me haha
I hope your finger got well again !!! ❤😊🙏
looks like a muskrat
It feels to me that the main point was buried here. Were the voles reintroduced to modify the environment? If so, how do the replacement of some plants with other plants and the creation of networks of vole dens benefit the environment? Were they reintroduced primarily to draw a diversity of predators and perhaps other animals to the river systems? In what way is this beneficial vs. what existed before? Can you clarify?
Excellent!
Great to see this project's success so far! I am curious though, are there long term plans to deal with the mink? The fact that the introduction area was vole free implies that minks wiped out the original population and then left when the food dried up. What's to stop minks from re-invading the area now that their favorite food is back?
Water vole 1 gets released*
Barn owl: "I'll take that!"
Grabs it and takes off*
Water vole 2 gets released*
Red fox comes out of nowhere and grabs vole 2*
Red fox: "Thank you!" ( Chomp! Crunch! Gulp! )
Water vole 3 gets relea....*
( Whoosh! )
Hawk snatches vole in and fly's away with it*
Water vole 4 gets released in the water*
Otter: "( Chomp! Munch! Munch! Munch! )
Well at least we still have the other vol...What happened the other voles?!
Polecat: "Hiccup!"
quick commen to support how i can :) keep up the great work, i love following the projects here on YT
That's really awesome, great news that the efforts for the water voles are bearing fruit! My question is, are there any measures being taken to remove the mink from the british ecosystems? With my limited ecology knowledge, I could imagine that an increase in voles as prey, the mink numbers could also rise.
That's what I was curious about as well. I imagine as the voles spread, eventually they'll run into mink territory. And once they do, won't the minks follow the food, spread into vole territory, and undo all this progress?
From what I gather, Voles contribute to Hurons food supply and they collapse embankments. What else?
Also coypu competes with the water vole as well thankfully they ate eradicated in the uk
when i was a kid epsom and ewell council wiped out the voles on the hogsmill river. so sad but it saved the council money.
So awesome. What kinds of animals and bugs has this project affected?
This almost seems like a comedy sketch, where at the end you realize the cute little water voles only purpose is to poop everywhere, devastate the plant life, and become food for predators 😳
Amazing job! I love to help you guys with those of projects. But i cant because i life in the netherlands