On Sat, 9 Jan 2010 10:24:37 +0100, "Willem Van der Voort"
wrote:


"joevan" schreef in bericht
.. .
On Fri, 8 Jan 2010 18:16:22 +0100, "Willem Van der Voort"
wrote:

http://www.jph-lamotte.fr/files/Plai...llon_1952b.htm

Interesting stuff. It appears to me that the bank of the canal broke
and spilled over the surrounding land and the water eroded the bottom
of the canal.

Correct, mostly the water rats (Arvicola amphibius) are the culprit. They
make tunnels in the dike, when the water finds a way thru it, the whole bank
comes down. And the force of the water erode the rest.

The European Water Vole (Arvicola amphibius formerly called A. terrestris)
is a semi-aquatic mammal that resembles a rat. In fact, the water vole is
often informally called the water rat. Some authorities consider the
Southwestern Water Vole in the same species, but it is now generally
considered a distinct species. Water voles have rounder noses than rats,
deep brown fur, chubby faces and short fuzzy ears; unlike the rat their
tails, paws and ears are covered with hair.

In the wild, they survive for 2 years on average; most do not survive a
second winter. In captivity, they normally start to deteriorate in condition
as they approach their third year becoming thinner and losing much of their
fur, nearly all die during their third winter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Water_Vole
Greets, Willem

Wow, all that from a little animal. Or rather a bunch of them.
Thanks for the follow up.