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Otter Spotting

kienik

By kienik
in General Boating

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kienik Proficient

kienik

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Evening All

 

Been up to the boat today to get another coat of blacking applied (didnt happen as i just drank coffe all day and socialised!).

 

During one of the riveting conversations a fellow moorer said that he had spotted an otter "fishing" in the canal the previous day/evening, he said he got a really good look at it and it was definately on otter, some others said that "you need to report that", thing is we dont know if we do need to report it and if so where and who to?

 

Once again thanks for the replies

 

Nik

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ditchcrawler Veteran II

ditchcrawlerDonate to Canal World

Posted
Posted

Evening All

 

Been up to the boat today to get another coat of blacking applied (didnt happen as i just drank coffe all day and socialised!).

 

During one of the riveting conversations a fellow moorer said that he had spotted an otter "fishing" in the canal the previous day/evening, he said he got a really good look at it and it was definately on otter, some others said that "you need to report that", thing is we dont know if we do need to report it and if so where and who to?

 

Once again thanks for the replies

 

Nik

I would not tell a soul, next thing you know someone will make it an SSI and ban boats.

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matty40s Veteran II

matty40s

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I would not tell a soul, next thing you know someone will make it an SSI and ban boats.

 

Me and Lou spotted one on the River Lea in Autumn, above Enfield, whilst catching red claw crayfish. There are information plaques on the Lee Navigations telling you about otters and other wildlife. I was not aware I had to report sightings...

 

Leave the buggers alone I tell you........ :lol:

Edited by matty40s
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Sunset Rising Proficient

Sunset Rising

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It is nice to see them making a return, although I am a little suprised to see one on a canal rather than fast river. Not aware of any need to report them though, although I dare say the local wildlife trust would be interested.

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Teadaemon Proficient

Teadaemon

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It is nice to see them making a return, although I am a little suprised to see one on a canal rather than fast river. Not aware of any need to report them though, although I dare say the local wildlife trust would be interested.

 

We now have plenty of Otters on the Norfolk Broads, very little of which could be described as 'fast flowing'.

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Lady Muck Veteran

Lady Muck

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Posted (edited)

Sure it wasn't a Mink?

 

Richard

 

Believe it or not, I've never seen any mink on the Lee. Never seen an otter either (although I've been told they do come down as far as here), we have lots of weasels on the marsh, though.

Edited by Lady Muck
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trackman Proficient

trackman

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Having set out today from Market Harborough towards Leicester (see recent query about the Soar) we've reached Kilby Bridge tonight. Funnily enough we met a guy walking the towpath a lock or two above Kilby, who it turned out, does voluntary work for the local council looking for signs of otters and such.

He assured us that there are otters regularly present on this stretch of canal, and showed us an otter spraint (otter poo) on the coping above the offside of the lock we were in at the time. As mentioned by matty40s, he also spoke of them eating crayfish.

We mentioned seeing an otter on the Market Harborough arm a couple of summers back, and he confirmed that there are signs of regular otter activity there too. Good to hear, they are fantastic animals.

 

trackman

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  • 3 weeks later...
Dorlan Collaborator

Dorlan

Posted
Posted (edited)

I noticed these intriguing tracks in a drained pound yesterday,...

 

track1.jpg

 

track2.jpg

 

then today I saw this...

 

slide.jpg

 

slide1.jpg

going down the slope

 

slide2.jpg

climbing back up!

 

At first it was assumed that the first set of tracks were made by a mink, as one is known to be in the vicinity.

The second set of photos could be an "otter slide", though. Unfortunately Google only came up with images of otter slides in snow. There were no references to "mink slides" at all!

 

Can anyone positively identify these tracks?

Edited by Dorlan
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Smudge Community Regular

Smudge

Posted
Posted

I noticed these intriguing tracks in a drained pound yesterday,...

 

slide2.jpg

climbing back up!

 

At first it was assumed that the first set of tracks were made by a mink, as one is known to be in the vicinity.

The second set of photos could be an "otter slide", though. Unfortunately Google only came up with images of otter slides in snow. There were no references to "mink slides" at all!

 

Can anyone positively identify these tracks?

 

this one is (imo) an otter. the other footprints look too small.

out of interest, how big are the footprints as otter feet are huge in comparison to mink?

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canaldrifter Experienced

canaldrifter

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We have otters here on the lock island at Sutton on Derwent. During the snow there were frequently similar tracks to be found in the mornings. They drag their bodies along, causing the flat trail between their paw prints.

 

I have seen two in broad daylight, quite close up. They are surprisingly small. They give the dog plenty to do. Every morning she has to run around and pee on their trails to show them who's boss.

 

About six years ago there were mink on the island. They got rid of the rats. Now the mink have gone, and we reckon somehow the otters have got rid of them. They come over to fish around the fish ladder. Sometimes we find the remains of fish on the steps.

 

Tone

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Dorlan Collaborator

Dorlan

Posted
Posted

this one is (imo) an otter. the other footprints look too small.

out of interest, how big are the footprints as otter feet are huge in comparison to mink?

It's difficult to estimate at the distance, between 10' and 20', that they were from the bank, but I would guess at approx one and a half to two inches across.

 

A fully zoomed in, 100% sized shot of the closest prints...

 

track3.jpg

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