Potential risk of American mink to water vole populations in east Glasgow

Abstract

Water voles (Arvicola amphibius) have undergone a rapid decline in the U.K. over the last few decades, due in part to the high predation pressure from introduced American mink (Neovison vison) (hereafter "mink") (Strachan, 2011). The water vole population within the Greater Easterhouse area of Glasgow was recently found to be of national importance, since this area contains some sites with the highest densities of water voles recorded within the U.K. (Stewart et al., 2017, 2019). Although these populations are fossorial in dry grassland, the extensive network of watercourses within the Greater Glasgow area (Fig. 1) and the proximity to the Seven Lochs Wetland Park may make these populations potentially at risk from mink invasion.