Coastal Otter Project

Background Information

The otter is one of Britain’s most iconic animals much famed for their mastery of water and fishing ability. Otters have made a remarkable recovery after significant and widespread population declines and can be found on many rivers and lakes in Britain.

The otter is a highly adaptable mammal able to exploit a wide range of habitats including coastal locations. Our present knowledge of how important or extensive otter coastal activity might be in Britain is currently limited. The purpose of this survey is to gather information to begin to understand how important coastal areas might be for otters. Your time and help with this are very much appreciated.

The purpose of the survey is to:

• Begin to record the distribution of otter activity in coastal areas in all area of Britain.
• Raise awareness of use of coastal areas by otters in Britain. This includes sandy beaches, dunes, docks, salt marshes, estuaries and rocky shorelines.
• The information need not to recent as any sightings over the last 30 years are useful to us.
• Information that we need
• Location: please try to as specific as possible, a grid reference is ideal but don’t worry if you cannot provide one.
• Date (day, month and year)
• Approximate time of day
• Details of what you saw. Please include as much information as possible. Did you see the otter on the beach, on rocky areas, or in the sea? How many otters did you observe? Have you seen them at this location before?

Please send any information to:

Dan Forman, Coastal Otters Project, Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP

Or email your sightings to: Otters@swansea.ac.uk