Otter, water vole
1 sound
If you're lucky, you might spot a mammal species as you walk along this stretch of the river. Otters have recently become more abundant in the Wimborne area, and can sometimes be seen feeding or playing in the Allen. Sometimes you might hear them, instead. Otters make a variety of unusual calls, some of which you can hear in this recording. Another mammal that lives here is the water vole, which makes burrows along the river bank. You can hear the squeaking sounds they make in the second part of this clip, together with the characteristic 'plop' as they dive in the water. Water voles eat vegetation, such as the plants that grow along the river bank. Otters eat fish, crayfish, frogs and small birds, and also water voles if they can catch them.
