Voles go on nine-mile epic treks in hunt for true love

Unlike home-loving Ratty in The Wind in the Willows, the hamster-sized mammals may trek for weeks across moors, bogland and mountains, covering distances of up to nine miles.

Along the way they might have to dodge predators such as weasels, stoats and eagles – just as if straying into the Wild Wood of Kenneth Grahame’s classic children’s novel.

The heroic furry wanderers are trying to preserve their species, according to scientists who tracked and studied water voles in the Scottish Highlands.

Lead researcher Professor Xavier Lambin, from the University of Aberdeen, said: “These lonely- heart water voles who live in small colonies know they can’t breed with their relatives, and so they head off when their hormones kick in... they know they have to reproduce if they are to survive.

“If they stay at home they will have only their brothers and sisters as potential mates.”

Water vole families are often separated by long distances, occupying isolated colonies on narrow ribbons of land alongside streams.

Both male and females strike out in search of suitable new sites on which to breed, said Prof Lambin.

“They will face a lot of dangers crossing unsuitable habitat to find a mate,” he added.

“Sometimes they get to one suitable patch and will spend three or four days there looking for and waiting for a partner.

“If unlucky in love, they will head off again on their travels.

“What is amazing is that despite their small size, water voles can spend weeks and weeks covering great distances – much further than we expected – in their quest to find another water vole.”

The scientists followed the voles for six weeks in the hills of Assynt, between Lochinver and Ullapool.

Animals routinely walked more than three kilometres (1.9 miles), and a few travelled as far as 15 kilometres (nine miles).

“These are stupendous distances, far beyond what we ever thought would be possible for a species of this size,” Prof Lambin said, addressing the British Science Festival taking place at the University of Aberdeen.

The findings may help conservation efforts aimed at protecting many other species, Prof Lambin said.