Otter Surveys

Southern Ecological Solutions (SES) have a wealth of experienced ecologists that have conducted Otter surveys followed by successful mitigation schemes that meet its clients ecological obligations and commercial needs in a cost effective and pragmatic way.

SES also has a specialist in house implementation team with expert ecological training allowing them to carry out works on sensitive sites. With experience in constructing new Otter holts, compensatory planting (habitat creation) and installation of otter proof fencing across roads.

Otter Habitat and Ecology

There are 13 species of otter in the world but only one found in Britain which is the European or Eurasian Otter. Otters have medium to dark brown fur with a lighter under belly; they have 2 layers of fur a dry warm inner and a thick water proof outer layer made so by oily guard hairs. Otters can reach a length of 1.2 m and a weight of 10kg and live on average for 4 years in the wild.

Otters are largely nocturnal and are most active 3 to 5 hours after dusk; they can be found in all types of wetland habitats but mainly prefer rivers but can also occupy streams, lakes, marshes, ditches and even coastal areas. Otters are territorial which they fiercely guard; territories can range from 100m to 40km depending on the quality of habitat; male and females do not share the same territory but these may overlap slightly with territory boundaries often marked with faecal droppings (spraints) however these spraints are also left along other prominent positions (e.g. boulders, fallen tree trunks). Otters can breed all year round but only generally breed once every 2 years; with female Otters giving birth to 1-4 cubs which are dependant on their mother for up to 1 year . Otters rest in structures/vegetation called holts, which are usually tree stumps roots with underwater entrances (secure holts like these are preferred for breeding sites) but holts can also take the form of holes in rock falls, caves and cavities under bridges. Otters also rest in dense vegetation these are known as couches.

Otters can move across their territory on land via established ‘runs’ through bank side vegetation and in the water but catch most of the prey underwater which consists mostly of fish but amphibians, small mammals, molluscs and crustaceans all supplement an otters diet.

Legal Status and Protection of Otters

Otters suffered a massive decline during the 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s; this was largely due to pollution (pesticides) and habitat loss/fragmentation largely down to agriculture and industry. Due to this serious population crash otters have very strict protective legislation through UK and European law.

Otters are listed on schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and therefore protected under Section 9 and also are protected under regulation 39 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) (Amendment) Regulations 2007. Taken together it is illegal to:

• Deliberately kill, injure or capture any wild animal of European protected species;
• Deliberately disturb wild animals of any European protected species in such a way to be likely to significantly affect:
• The ability of any significant groups of animals of that species to survive, breed, rear or nurture their young; or
• The local distribution of that species.
• Recklessly disturb a European protected species or obstruct access to their roosts;
• Damage or destroys breed sites or resting places of such animals;
• Deliberately takes or destroys the young of such an animal;
• Possess or transport or any part of a European protected species, unless acquired legally;
• Sell, barter or exchange any part of a European protected species.

The maximum fine per offence is £5000; The Countryside Rights of Way Act 2000 (CRoW) amendment contains a provision for a custodial sentence of up to 6 months instead of, or in addition to, a fine. Along with a lengthy development delay until an appropriate mitigation programme has been agreed and completed.

The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (NERC) also lists the Otter as a species of principle importance under Section 41 and Section 40 requires every public body in the exercising of its functions (in relation Section 41 species) ‘have regard, so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions, to the purpose of conserving biodiversity’ ; therefore making the Otter a material consideration in the planning process and requiring a detailed ecological survey before planning permission can be granted . In addition, local authority planning departments should also meet the requirements of the Planning Policy Statement 9 (PPS9) which requires planners not only to protect biodiversity, but where possible to enhance it.

Otter Surveys

Otters avoid disturbance and as previously mentioned are largely nocturnal thus t makes surveying an Otter quite difficult; therefore an experienced SES ecologist would look for Otter field signs primarily foot prints alongside the riverside (or any other Otter habitat) and spraints deposited at significant features within and on the boundary of the Otter’s territory. These spraints are long, black, cigar shaped droppings (3-10cm long). They often contain fish or amphibian bones; spraints have a distinguishable musky smell that is faintly sweet with a mucous/tar like jelly regularly left; exoskeletons of crustaceans can also be found in exposed areas. Weather conditions are a factor and must be recorded and interpreted. Otter surveys can be undertaken all year round .

Otter Mitigation

A Natural England mitigation licence would be required for any works that disturbs Otters such as checking Otter holts; a licence will always be required before works can commence which usually takes 30 days for the mitigation scheme to be processed. It most be noted that Natural England will only authorise the destruction of an Otter holt in exceptional circumstances. SES ecologists have designed and implemented various successful mitigation schemes that have involved the creation of new Otter holts, improving habitat connectivity, measures that minimise the disturbance in areas with existing Otter holts, compensatory planting and habitat creation to equal or positive degree for potential habitat loss, Otter proof fencing across roads and culverting of existing or new roads to minimise ‘road kill’ deaths which now constitute a significant threat to Otters.