Changes

Other plans to help water voles by controlling mink include ‘rafts’ made out of wood, polystyrene, oasis and clay, designed to get the mink to climb aboard and leave footprints, alerting watchers to set traps for them. <ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/6211208.stm</ref> Protective measures include building culverts to allow them to cross underneath roads safely – Durham Wildlife Trust has a ‘Coals to Voles’ project that aims to protect vole habitat in former coalfield areas. <ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/5178284.stm</ref> In Nottinghamshire, Severn Trent water company bred baby water voles and released them into protected pools at the Kirkby in Ashfield sewage treatment site, microchipping them first in order to monitor their weight and health. <ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/3799063.stm</ref>

Other plans to help water voles by controlling mink include ‘rafts’ made out of wood, polystyrene, oasis and clay, designed to get the mink to climb aboard and leave footprints, alerting watchers to set traps for them. <ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/6211208.stm</ref> Protective measures include building culverts to allow them to cross underneath roads safely – Durham Wildlife Trust has a ‘Coals to Voles’ project that aims to protect vole habitat in former coalfield areas. <ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/5178284.stm</ref> In Nottinghamshire, Severn Trent water company bred baby water voles and released them into protected pools at the Kirkby in Ashfield sewage treatment site, microchipping them first in order to monitor their weight and health. <ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/3799063.stm</ref>

Vole research is indicating that fidelity may be genetic. It seems that less than 5% of mammals are naturally [[monogamous]]. This number includes the prairie voles, ''Microtus ochrogaster'', which guard their mate and help rear their young. Meadow voles, ''Microtus pennsylvanicus'', skip blithely from mate to mate and mainly ignore their offspring. Researchers found that meadow voles had fewer vasopressin receptors in their forebrains than prairie voles. To test the theory that the receptor and the behaviour were connected, they gave meadow voles extra vasopressin receptors. The former Don Juans reformed and stayed true to just one mate, even when other females tempted them. Scientists believe that the release of vasopressin during mating acts as a reward, picked up by the extra receptors, making the voles associate those feelings with that mate and encouraging fidelity. <ref>http://www.corante.com/loom/archives/004394.html</ref>

Vole research is indicating that fidelity may be genetic. It seems that less than 5% of mammals are naturally [[monogamous]]. This number includes the prairie voles, ''Microtus ochrogaster'', which guard their mate and help rear their young. Meadow voles, ''Microtus pennsylvanicus'', skip blithely from mate to mate and mainly ignore their offspring. Researchers found that meadow voles had fewer [[vasopressin]] receptors in their forebrains than prairie voles. To test the theory that the receptor and the behaviour were connected, they gave meadow voles extra vasopressin receptors. The former Don Juans reformed and stayed true to just one mate, even when other females tempted them. Scientists believe that the release of vasopressin during mating acts as a reward, picked up by the extra receptors, making the voles associate those feelings with that mate and encouraging fidelity. <ref>http://www.corante.com/loom/archives/004394.html</ref>

Similar hormones and pathways may be involved in human behaviour, as vasopressin is also released when humans have sex, although in voles the sense of smell is far more important than it is in humans. However, researchers are focusing on implications for autism, where social interaction is abnormal and vasopressin may be involved. Mountain voles – another promiscuous species like meadow voles – have the highest rate of sex of any mammal in the animal world. <ref>http://www.corante.com/loom/archives/004394.html</ref>

Similar hormones and pathways may be involved in human behaviour, as vasopressin is also released when humans have sex, although in voles the sense of smell is far more important than it is in humans. However, researchers are focusing on implications for autism, where social interaction is abnormal and vasopressin may be involved. Mountain voles – another promiscuous species like meadow voles – have the highest rate of sex of any mammal in the animal world. <ref>http://www.corante.com/loom/archives/004394.html</ref>