The beavers helping out rare water voles in Scotland

Water voles once thrived in Scotland but are now one of the country's most threatened native animals

Beavers reintroduced to a Scottish rainforest 15 years ago have been helping out a threatened species - water voles.

Once Scotland had many, but now water voles are now one of the country's most threatened native animals.

However, thanks to some beavers, the little animals have another chance to thrive.

Read on to find out how beavers are helping the water voles survive.

Beavers that were reintroduced to a Scottish rainforest 15 years ago have helped out a threatened species - water voles

How are beavers helping water voles in Scotland?

Beavers were reintroduced to Scotland back in 2009 and are now thriving.

Thanks to their dam building skills they might not be the only wildlife flourishing in the Scottish rainforest.

Beavers' dam building has led to a new habitat along the banks of the river, and it is this which is the perfect spot for water voles.

In this habitat, between water and land, the water voles are able to dig burrows and hide from predators such as mink.

Mink are the biggest predator threat to water voles

Is the beaver dam plan working for water voles?

It is hoped that with help from the beavers, to create the right conditions, water voles will once again thrive in Scotland.

John Taylor, from Forestry and Land Scotland, helps manage the Knapdale forests - one of the areas where the beaver dam building has been taking place.

John said: "The Knapdale beavers have blurred the boundaries between water and land, which means more places for water voles to hide and hopefully flourish.”