Water Vole Arvicola amphibius (formerly A. terrestris)
The Water Vole also called the European or Northern Water Vole, lives on banks by lakes, ponds and waterways in Northern and Central Europe.
Although sometimes called a Water Rat and superficially resembling a rat, the Water Vole is much furrier with a vole's rounder face,
lower-set, hairy ears which don't stick up and hair on its feet and tail.
The endearing Water Vole was nearly wiped out by the actions of humans: either directly killed being mistaken for a rat
or preyed on by feral, non-native mink released into the wild by people. It is now making a comeback through careful re-introduction and monitoring.
Its diet is almost entirely vegetation.
It spends a lot of time in the water . . .
. . . and swims well.
I must go to the bank