Engineers are working to keep “Ratty” safe from construction work on one of Scotland’s longest and most controversial power lines.
The building of the 137-mile Beauly to Denny powerline has taken a delicate turn after colonies of water voles were found on its route.
Work is under way with conservationists to identify the inhabited watercourses in order to move the least amount of voles possible.
Now 15 of the creatures, immortalised as “Ratty” in the much-loved children’s book Wind in the Willows, have been carefully relocated to new safer habitats close by.
Chris Meek, environmental project manager for Scottish Hydro Electric (SHE), said: “Our first task is to assess the watercourse we need to cross and identify the area with the lowest population of water voles.
“To inform this decision our specialist ecologists have spent time monitoring the area, so we know exactly the stretch to utilise.
“At the crossing point we fence the area off and over an agreed time period carefully catch any voles living within it, before moving them upriver to a similar, suitable environment. Once the works have been completed we will take the fencing down and let nature take its course.”
Mr Meek added: “To date we’ve moved around 15 voles in three areas, mainly in the Drumochter region. We also have evidence that voles return to their original homes, which is great news.”
Water voles are Britain’s fastest-declining wild mammal with predators, such as American mink, largely to blame for the falling numbers.
Changeable weather and habitat loss are also behind the drop in numbers.
SHE is building the 137-mile power line which will involve an upgrade of a large stretch of existing transmission kit.
More than 260 pylons are now in place, around half of the total to be carrying electricity by 2015.
Permission for the power line was granted in 2010 despite widespread objection from countryside campaigners.
Mike Shepherd, of Scottish Natural Heritage, said: “The survey works by SHE Transmission are providing valuable new information about water vole populations, and we welcome the extensive measures taken to protect them from any harm during construction work.”