What is the characteristic cut angle left on grazed stems by water voles?
Answer
45-degree angled cut
When monitoring the habitat of water voles, one of the most reliable signs of their foraging activity is the manner in which they consume grasses and stems. They tend to graze repeatedly in the same established feeding stations. The evidence left behind is piles of nibbled stems, which feature a very specific physical signature: the ends of the cut stems exhibit a distinctive 45-degree angled cut. Recognizing this specific cutting angle is important for surveyors looking for signs of their presence near waterways.
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