When are water vole activities, such as feeding along bankside paths, typically at their highest probability of observation?
Answer
Dawn and dusk
Water voles are shy creatures that must balance their need to feed with the risk of predation. Consequently, their most active periods occur when visibility is lower for their primary threats, namely aerial predators. The prime window for observing them venturing out to feed along the bankside paths is reliably during the transitional light periods of dawn and dusk. While sightings are possible during quiet, secure daylight hours, these crepuscular times offer the highest probability for seeing the voles actively foraging outside their burrows.
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