Ratty

About a week ago we were at a campsite called Camping Les Breuils at Verdun, in France. We have stayed at this site a couple of times in the past. During our three visits we have always been given a pitch just across from the toilet blocks with a lake behind the pitches. 

Not long after we had set up I was having a look round and on one of the pitches I saw an animal. At first I thought it was a large mouse or a rat. However on closer inspection I concluded it was a water vole. No ears to speak of and a thicker tail. Water voles were perhaps made famous by Kenneth Grahame in his children’s novel, Wind in the Willows first published in 1908, with the character Ratty. Many years ago we used to cruise the canals in a small boat and we would often hear the plopping of water voles as they made their way along the banks of the canal. Over time I think they have become rarer.  They are renowned for being quite shy creatures which added to my surprise at seeing one munching away at the grass on the pitch. He seemed totally unaware of me which made me think that there was something wrong with him. A bit later he was still there but this time he had company. Not only had a German chap pitched his tent but there was also a cat taking a great interest in the water vole. I remarked to my new chum that we seem to have a Tom and Jerry situation which seemed to appeal to his sense of humour. Cats tend to chase things that move fast but Ratty was quite content to chew at the grass which hopefully confused the cat!!! 

As we were getting ready to leave Margaret asked me to empty the  water bottle that we use to fill the kettle. It seemed sensible to pour this away on the bank of the lake. To my surprise there was another water vole, or possibly the same one, on the vegetation on the side of the lake. My presence did not seem to bother him. I rushed back for the camera and was able to take several picture of him as he munched away. Magical!