Scottish Water relocated a population of rare burrowing city water voles in Glasgow's East End to make way for new infrastructure [1, 2].
The move is critical because these fossorial water voles are found nowhere else in the UK [3]. Their presence in the East End represents a nationally significant population that requires protection during urban development [1, 3].
Officials from Scottish Water, with involvement from Glasgow City Council, captured the animals and moved them to a new site [1, 2]. The relocation was necessary to allow the construction of a new flood drainage system, and other essential drainage works in the area [1, 2].
These specific voles are unique due to their burrowing behavior in an urban environment. By moving the colony before the start of the project, the agencies aimed to prevent the loss of the animals during the excavation process [1, 3].
The project involves significant modifications to the local water management system to mitigate flood risks. The relocation process ensures that the infrastructure can be modernized without destroying a rare biological habitat [1, 2].
“These fossorial water voles are found nowhere else in the UK.”
This operation highlights the tension between urban climate adaptation, specifically flood mitigation, and biodiversity preservation. Because this specific population of burrowing voles is unique to the UK, the successful relocation is a prerequisite for the city's infrastructure upgrades, illustrating how rare species can dictate the timeline and execution of public works projects.
