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Water Voles Are Back in a Hertfordshire Chalk Stream — 40 Years After They Vanished
Harpenden Town Council has reintroduced 200 water voles to Batford Springs Local Nature Reserve in Hertfordshire, marking the first time the animals have been present there in 40 years. The three-year project involved creating new ponds, planting native vegetation, and monitoring mink numbers to ensure the site was safe for the voles to thrive. Water voles have been in serious decline across England due to habitat loss and predation by invasive mink.
The Hornet That Wasn't: What the Data Shows About Spain's Invasive Vespa velutina
A study by researchers at the University of the Balearic Islands found no evidence that the spread of the invasive yellow-legged hornet (*Vespa velutina*) in Spain has led to increased deaths from stinging insects, despite alarming media coverage. Analysing official death records from 1999 to 2023, they found no clear rise in mortality linked to the hornet's presence, even in areas where it is well established. The researchers stress the importance of accurate public communication, distinguishing genuine epidemiological risk from perceived threat, while calling for continued surveillance of non-fatal health impacts such as allergic reactions.