Online
£105.00

Water Vole Ecology and Surveying

4 hours
3 modules
Introductory

Water voles are fully protected by UK law and can be found on-site near water courses. It is, therefore, essential that ecologists and conservationists know how to recognise the field signs of water voles, and how to survey for them. You should also have a good understanding of water vole ecology and law if you are likely to encounter them in your work.

In this course, we look at how to recognise signs of water voles and how to survey for them. We also look at the laws protecting them and their conservation needs.

This course is taught as a series of videos by an experienced Principal Ecologist from Ecology Training UK. It combines a virtual classroom session that will teach you about water vole ecology, identification, field signs and legislation. Then, we go outdoors on a virtual water vole survey to learn how to apply these skills in practice. By the end of the course you should have a good basic knowledge of water vole conservation, ecology and surveying, and the legal framework surrounding their protection.

The course will cover the following topics:

  • Water vole biology and ecology
  • How to identify water voles and their field signs
  • The legal status of water voles
  • Water vole conservation

What you get:

The course comprises 2 videos – one in the classroom and one out in the field, and handouts for the classroom part. At the end there will be a short quiz and if you get over 70% you will receive a Certificate.

Timings:

Study in your own time. Takes approximately 3-4 hours.

Courses modules:

Module 1

Water Voles Video 1- Classroom

Module 2

Water Voles Video 2 – Looking for Field signs

Module 3

Water Voles End of Course Quiz

Here’s what our students are saying:

Great short course to gain knowledge about our rare little water rodent. If you’re looking to learn more about water voles I highly recommend this course.
Michael
It was very informative and easy to access and navigate.
Tim
The course is easy to follow and explained quite well especially helping individuals getting started in ecology
Jack
Useful links, detailed information, great supporting photos
Claire
The material was concise and easy to understand; I loved the flexibility and ability to get the qualifications done at your own pace; and Sue was brilliant!
Deren
ETUK is such wonderful and exciting resource. I came across an advertisement in British Wildlife. I appreciate how generous and comprehensive the information is. It’s very empowering to feel I can actually gain the tools to help to make an impact.
Anna
Flexibility and easy to follow layout.
Michael
I liked the course, it was very comprehensive. I’m surprised how much I enjoyed the online elements of the course, I thought I would do better in a face to face course but honestly being able to go at my own pace is really working for me as I can spend time on the bits I find tricky as they come up rather than making a note to look things up later… I like the YouTube videos, being able to pause or even speed up the video to match my pace works well for me. I do feel like I learnt a lot. I would 100% recommend the course to others
SC
ETUK- has really given me a step up into the ecology sector. I feel confident and motivated to take my career development in this direction, particularly in bat work, this course has given me the foundations to achieve that. Thank you 🙂
Georgina

FAQs

Can I retake the quiz if I fail?

The final exam is designed to test whether you have learned the appropriate knowledge and skills during this course. If you take the final exam and do not pass, we encourage you to review the course material and ensure you have read, understood and remembered the lessons. We want you to get the most out of this course and provide you with the knowledge and confidence you need to apply what you learn to your job or career. You may retake the final test once you have revisited the course material.

Will I still have access to the course materials once I finish the course?

Yes! We want you to get as much out of this course as possible. We encourage you to refer back to your course materials from time to time to refresh your memory and ensure that you are confident on the subject. Therefore, when you purchase this course, you will have lifetime access to the course materials.