I was lucky enough to be part of a group of around 15 attending this excellent training day organised by the Edinburgh Council Ranger Service on Sunday. The day involved a morning spent indoors getting some background info on otters and on the signs that show their presence, then a survey of roughly a 1km stretch of the local Braid burn in the afternoon. Otters are revealed mainly by their spraints (photo above). These droppings, used to mark territories, are usually black, tarry, full of fish bones and have a strong but not unpleasant smell. Other signs to look for are footprints - large, five toed and with claws, holts (large holes near water where otters lie up and rear young), and slides (in grass or mud, on steep banks and used to enter water).
Our afternoon survey produced no less than 30 spraints, most quite old (probably a week or more) but still very recognisable. I hope to do some regular surveying on Edinburgh watercourses now that I know what to look for, and would like to thank Ranger Stacey Schumacher and the volunteers for a really fascinating day.
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