Otter spraint?

[Staghound]

I guess this comes under tracking, I found these droppings a couple of days ago on a rock in our river and I am kind of hoping they might be otter. I broke one of them up and it contained small bones and what looked like fish scales which would fit.

The arrow shows where they were found

Any thoughts

Steve

 

[Rhoda]

Aaah my speciality!! Definitely looks like otter spraint to me. They place it on rocks and high places so that the scent gets carried on the wind to mark their territory. Did you smell it? Smells remarkably like jasmine tea!! Good find (and yes it totally comes under tracking!)

 

[Staghound]

To be honest I don't think I've ever smelled Jasmine tea. I would describe them as smelling musty but not unpleasant as such, definitely not a rank smell which I understand is a way of distinguishing otter from mink.

Cheers

Steve

 

[Rhoda]

Yeah mink smells awful! Definitely otter if it smells ok!

 

[JonnyP]

Nice one Steve...Gonna try to find the otter now..?

 

[Staghound]

Had another mooch along that stretch of river today (I am a genius at finding things to do that aren't work ) found another five or six spraints in a hundred yards or so, obviously it/they'd been around for a bit.

Haven't spotted the beast itself yet JonnyP, I did find what looked like a slide into the stream, might try and dig out my old camera trap at the weekend. I'll let you know if I have any luck.

Steve

 

[JonnyP]

I'll let you know if I have any luck.

Steve

Please do....

Hey Rhoda... Are there many otters living here in Cornishland..?

 

[Rhoda]

Loads of them, I did a big survey of the River Fal and tributaries and found spraint at nearly every site I checked, big increase in numbers since previous surveys too! If you ever fancy a wade down a river give me a shout, I'd be happy to show you some good otter spotting spots!!

 

[JonnyP]

Loads of them, I did a big survey of the River Fal and tributaries and found spraint at nearly every site I checked, big increase in numbers since previous surveys too! If you ever fancy a wade down a river give me a shout, I'd be happy to show you some good otter spotting spots!!

Ooh, yes please.. I will give you a shout... I have never seen otters outside of Scotland..

 

[bear knights]

hey JonnyP. saw rhoda last night and have invited myself along and think you need to bring your missus out too!! maybe a later search by canoe?!?
there's one woods near me that i'm sure I've found a holt but hasn't looked used for a while, although there is fresh spraint further up the river. have avoided going too close to holt in case I scare it off but there are fields opposite where we might get a view.
You being the dead keen boy I know you are , Cornwall wildlife trust has a specialist group called Cornwall otter group (appropriately enough!) and are always looking for volunteers to monitor one of the many river catchments.

 

[JonnyP]

hey JonnyP. saw rhoda last night and have invited myself along and think you need to bring your missus out too!! maybe a later search by canoe?!?
there's one woods near me that i'm sure I've found a holt but hasn't looked used for a while, although there is fresh spraint further up the river. have avoided going too close to holt in case I scare it off but there are fields opposite where we might get a view.
You being the dead keen boy I know you are , Cornwall wildlife trust has a specialist group called Cornwall otter group (appropriately enough!) and are always looking for volunteers to monitor one of the many river catchments.

Hey missy Knights, how you doing...
Sounds fab, esp a canoe trip.
I am not really in a position to volunteer for anything right now (v busy boy), but I would love to come out and learn a bit about otters and what to look for. I will give Rhoda a shout soon...
Hope your well...Janie says hello...