Water voles originally found fame from 'The Wind in the Willows' where the character Ratty was in fact a water vole. They were once one of the most common waterside mammals but the arrival of the American Mink and habitat disturbance has had a catastrophic impact. They are now Britain's most endangered mammal suffering 97% reduction to its range.

The Scottish water voles are smaller, blacker and shaggier than the English and Welsh ones. Where there is no sign of the Mink and river system management schemes have either not occurred or have undertaken sensitive manner the water vole still holds on.