Otter Surveys
Otters are a European Protected Species and are also protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). They were once endangered in Britain but conservation efforts have enabled populations to increase.
Otters are semi-aquatic mammals using inland watercourses from small streams, and large rivers to urban watercourses. They also use sites away from water in scrub and woodland for resting up and breeding.
Surveys for otter can be carried out at any time of the year but evidence is most easily observed in the spring when vegetation is low and paw prints can be observed in wet mud.
Surveys include a systematic search for field signs such as spraint, paw prints, feeding remains, pathways, slides into water, holts and couches.
If signs of otter are observed, further survey with camera traps may be recommended to gain information on population and habitat use.
