• Question: what are your predators, that eat you?

    Asked by mruglyhimself10 to Orkney vole, Naval Shipworm on 3 Nov 2017. This question was also asked by spaghettibolognese.
    • Photo: Orkney Vole

      Orkney Vole answered on 3 Nov 2017:

      Unfortunately we are very very tasty, which is a bit of a disaster from an evolutionary point of view. So we have to avoid birds of prey, cats, stoats, weasels, dogs and foxes.Hiding in burrows deep underground is our best way of avoiding predators.

    • Photo: Naval Shipworm

      Naval Shipworm answered on 3 Nov 2017:

      When I am hidden in wood, not much can get to me! Worms are my major problem – they can get into my tunnels and attack me, even when hidden. But I do have some other problems at different times of my life.

      My larvae are vulnerable as they are swimming round finding a place to live, and can get eaten by lots of animals – jellyfish, coral, anything that can catch us really!

      I also have lots of parasites – small animals that live on me. Sort of what head lice are to some people! These don’t kill me immediately, but do make life tougher.

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