Bank Vole
Myodes glareolus
Llygoden pengrwn coch
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Status:
The bank vole is a native species, widespread in Snowdonia occurring in most woodlands, shrub habitats and hedgerows. The species has no legal status in the UK and is not threatened
There are an estimated 1.75 million pre-breeding bank voles in Wales. Numbers fluctuate from year to year depending on the seed crop of the previous autumn which allows better winter survival and even winter breeding. As a rodent they are short lived (rarely surviving more than 2 years) but are highly fecund with a single female producing up to 7 litters in a year each of 3-4 babies. The population therefore has an annual increase to peak numbers each October.
In Snowdonia the species has been under-recorded as one of the best methods to confirm its presence is to use Longworth small mammal traps which is a labour intensive method.