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4.1 Water Vole Evidence of Water Vole was found in 17 of the 86 surveyed features. Five of these features were identified as ‘key areas’ for Water Vole.
Four features were not accessed at the time of survey. These features must be surveyed before the commencement of works if affected.
No evidence of Water Vole was recorded at the remaining 69 features. The drying out and/or vigorous vegetation growth of some of the features during the summer months may have temporarily pushed the Water Voles away from the survey area into adjacent, connected but better-quality habitat. There is potential for Water Voles (particularly dispersing juveniles) to use these features earlier and/or later in the year provided they are suitable.
4.2 European Otter
Evidence of European Otter was limited to spraints. No couches or holts were positively identified from the surveys. Despite this, there are numerous locations suitable on the features that European Otters could use for couches and holts.
European Otter are highly mobile and could commute through and/or forage in the majority of the features surveyed. A pre-construction survey will be required to ensure no holts or couches have been established in the interim period from these survey to construction commencement.
4.3 Further actions
Pre-construction surveys for Water Vole and European Otter will be undertaken immediately before any development works are carried out to assess activity levels of both species in any areas that development works may affect. Following this, mitigation strategies will be implemented where necessary.
East Anglia Offshore Wind Limited
Water Vole and Otter Technical Report 854188 (Rev 02)