HILARIOUS MOMENT HERON SLIPS ON ICE AND SLIDES RIGHT PAST LUCKY VOLE
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A hunting heron slipped on ice and slid right past a lucky vole.
Paolo Sanna was filming at RSPB Blacktoft Sands, East Yorkshire, when a grey heron locked its eyes on some prey.
Tense footage shows the hungry bird stalk the endangered water vole, flying low in an effort to scoop it up.
However, as soon as it landed on the frozen water it slid straight past the rodent before falling beak first allowing its meal to scamper to safety.
“I have never seen a prey escaping a heron’s beak, these birds are usually infallible in these situations.“
Paolo Sanna
Paolo said: “I have never seen a prey escaping a heron’s beak, these birds are usually infallible in these situations.
“The outcome really surprised me, I didn’t think the ice would have given the little vole such an advantage.
“The bird had been observing the prey from distance. I’m not sure how long for as I only realised the prey was there once the Heron made the move.
“I didn’t think the little prey had a chance at that point but surprisingly it managed to escape.
“I’ve been photographing birds and wildlife as a hobby for the last six years, it started as an excuse to get out during the pandemic and it soon turned into my greatest passion.”
🐹 Learn More About: Water Voles
🔬 Scientific Name: Arvicola amphibius
📏 Size
• Body: 12–20 cm
• Tail: 6–10 cm
• Weight: 140–340 g ⚖️
⏳ Lifespan
• Usually 3–5 months in the wild
• Up to 2 years in perfect conditions 🌱
🏞️ Habitat
• Slow rivers, canals, ponds, marshes & ditches
• Love dense bankside vegetation 🌾
🥬 Diet
• Grasses, reeds & waterside plants
• Occasionally berries & roots 🍓
🏊 Behaviour
• Brilliant swimmers
• Dig burrows into riverbanks
• Active during the day ☀️
• Extremely territorial ⚔️
🐣 Breeding
• March – October
• 2–5 litters each year
• Up to 8 pups per litter 👶
🦊 Predators
• American mink (biggest threat)
• Herons, owls, foxes & stoats 🦉
🚨 UK Conservation Status
• Endangered
• Numbers have dropped by over 90% since the 1970s 📉
⚠️ Main Threats
• Invasive American mink
• Habitat destruction
• Pollution & riverbank damage 🏭
🔍 How to Identify a Water Vole
• Round face & blunt nose
• Rich chestnut-brown fur 🤎
• Small furry ears
• Thick, hairy tail — rats have long, scaly tails! 🐀❌
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