Nature takes care of the vole ‘plague’: Country diary, 10 June 1921

10 June 1921 Owls, kestrels, weasels and stoats took the matter in hand and adjusted nature’s balance

Cumberland
There are so many field voles in this part of Cumberland that they are practically a “plague”; the inhabitants call them mice and short-tailed field-mouse is a common name for this stumpy little pest. Many years ago there was a really bad visitation in southern Scotland, and the shepherds were badly scared; a commission was sent to Greece, where “plagues” are not infrequent, to learn all about vole plagues and how to check them. The members had a pleasant holiday, and wrote quite an interesting Blue-book, but before they got to work at destroying the voles the owls, kestrels, rooks, weasels, and stoats took the matter in hand and adjusted nature’s balance.

Related: Country diary: Wenlock Edge

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source https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jun/07/country-diary-nature-takes-care-of-the-vole-plague-1921

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