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Hey Otters,
yesterday we had a great time at ottercine. There was one question in the chat, which stuck to me: What does being/becoming a certtified otter-spotter entail?
I´ll give some context here, this is part one:
First, there are good news: the Eurasian Otter populations are on the rise. Once almost extinct in major parts of europe, he is back. But there are some challenges:
1. Habitat loss: The good thing is, there is no shortage of Otters, but a shortage of habitats. Eurasian Otters are solitary animals, they only enter another otters territory for mating. But as every Otter should have his own territory, there are not enough suitable landscapes.
2. Human-made dangers: Our modern infrastructure can be hazardous for Otters. As an Otter travels through rivers, to find a new territory or a mate, he needs to cross bridges. They can be a problem, as the otter likes to place spraints at the highest point possible, which is the top of the bridge, where the street is. This often gets the otter killed by traffic. Sometimes there even are no bridges, just a pipe under a road, too narrow or too flooded for otters to pass. This leaves them the only option to cross this section by entering the road.
3. Traffic: I described, why the otter crosses roads, now, what do the numbers say? As Otter the population grows, so are the number of Otters killed by traffic. This still is one of the biggest causes of Otter death in nature.
4. Other dangers:
fish traps: the traditional ones cannot be escaped by the otter, so he drowns in them. (Good news: the Otterzentrum Hankensbüttel helped to design "Otter friendly" fish traps, which have an exit for the Otter, only he can open. Still, this new design is still not used enough.)
Poor to bad water quality: in some regions the water quality is still not good enough to support life. This is true close to cities, where sewer overflows are regularly happening after strong rainfalls. This pollutes rivers with raw sewage, which is toxic to ...
Part two:
Otter Spotters
What can be done, to make life better for otters? This is where Otter spotters are important. We collect data in the field in two ways:
1. random findings: If I´m out in nature, I look for otter signs, such as footprints and spraints. If I find something, I document it by photo or video and enter it into this database: https://www.otterspotter.de/
The good news is: you don´t need to be a certified otter spotter to enter random findings. If you find something, just enter it here.
2. IUCN-Standartized method: this method is applied by otter spotters all throughout europe. There are pre-defined points of interest, which are checked for otter signs in regular intervals. For example, this can be a part of a river, with a bridge. Here only a 600m long downstrem section gets checked, it´s either positive or negative. This method requires some more advanced training, thus, you need to be an otter spotter.
Why is all of that necessary?
1. Keeping track of otter populations: where is the otter now? Science needs this data to better understand the behavior of our Eurasian Otter.
2. Eliminating hazards for the otter: If otter presence is verified by otter spotters, it may be possible to get government funding for making briges more otter friendly and as such, roads safer.
3. Creating safe-spaces: if Otters are positively identified in one area, it even may become a nature reserve.
In the next part, I´ll describe what otter spotter training looks like. Stay tuned!
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Part three:
Becoming an Otter Spotter
I registered for the Otter Spotter course at Otterzentrum Hankensbüttel.
This course takes two days.
Last weekend there were over thirty otter interested people of all ages from all over Germany and the Netherlands in Hankensbüttel.
On the first day, we learned a lot about Otter biology and behavior. In theory and practical.
Makes sense, as there were live Eurasian Otters right in the Backyard!
The second day was about finding signs of Otter presence in the field. How to find clues and how to document them.
Also, the IUCN-Standard method was introduced. And yes- you get to smell the spraints! But once you get that smell,
you´ll definetly recognize it in the field. It´s very fishy, with a destinct anise or licorice smell to it.
As practical lessons, we entered an Otter enclosure in small groups to search for spraints and footprints.
The otters were there, too, but were completely unbothered. They briefly watched us and continued ottering around in their pool.
For context: Otterzentrum Hankensbüttel is not your average zoo with classic enclusures.
All mustelids are living in large enclosures which look a lot like their natural habitat, with woodland, ponds, rivers and plenty of hiding spaces. As a visitor, you really need to mind the feeding times, otherwise there is a chance, you don´t see any mustelids. No animal is forced to be on display for visitors.
After getting some experience in an controlled environment such as an otter enclosure, where you´ll definetly find something,
we drove to the river Ise and searched a bridge for otter signs. And found some!
Fresh footprints and spraints. It´s so cool to find something by yourself, I personally try to imagine how the otter was roaming arond
that place.
After two days of otter fun you get your certificate and are an official otter spotter!
Thanks for sharing all this! And congratulations on the certificate.
How much does it cost to become an otter spotter?
And how is the accomidation in the Otterzentrum during the course?
The course costs 100€ for non-members and 50€ for members of Aktion Fischotterschutz. Students get a 10% discount.
Things you need to pay extra: Lunch at the Otterzentrums own Restaurant (if you´re there, you NEED to try it, it is absolutely delicious!) as well as accomodation, which is not at Otterzentrum and have to organize yourself. Drinks, Coffee as well as cake are included in the costs and are available during the course.
Accomodation in the Otterzentrum are only for people serving a voluntary service year.
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Ottercine: Otter Movie Night
What?
A stream event where we meet and watch otters and other things together. Documentaries, short videos, whatever you like - everyone can add something!
When?
On the last Sunday of every month at 8pm UTC.
Where?
Here: https://cytu.be/r/ottercine
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Ottercine this Sunday!
Ottercine tomorrow! I found some things!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL2XUhfs0bc
This one is about otters and decently long, I'm glad it popped up this month because it's been so dire lately.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGG7WQFT2lc
I also found this, it's about Lusatia and rewilding former industrial areas. we had watched another doc about something similar and it was nice, so I figured I'd add it to the queue even if we cant watch it this week.
It's ottercine today! Heres what I found this week
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTaotXUkpmI
This one is about otters and badgers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL2XUhfs0bc&t=275s
I feel like we have seen this one before, but i cant find it so maybe im jsut going crazy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZOWC81AaIY
This one is in french but it had subtitles. Might not be everyone's cup of tea, totally fair.
Its ottercinne again! I found the below and it seems like a nice one about lots of different otters, but i was kinda wondering if we could perhaps watch on the tracks of the wild otter again? That was my first ottercine and I've been feelin nostalgic lately. We can always watch both, or save it for another time if theres too much to fit into one night. See you tonight!
Inside the Secret Life of Otters - Amazing Family Bonds & Survival
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hpftcHE5s0
On the Tracks of the Wild Otter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvIneE_fcHM
Good find like always ! I'd be down to rewatch on the tracks of the wild otter too, otter films never get old
Sometimes otters end up in places where you wouldn't expect them.
>It emptied a cupboard but, other than that, there was nothing smashed or broken, remarkable reallyA very considerate guest, the otter!
It emptied a cupboard but,
Other than that, there was nothing smashed or broken,
Remarkable really
Hey Otters,
happy World Otter Day!
Happy world otter day! I'm going to give a little otter presentation at work today, happy to share info about them on their special day
That´s awesome! I would have loved to see that presentation.
I visited Botanika in Bremen today, it´s an asian-style botanical garden with animals, such as Beos, Koi fish as well as Gibbons. Absolutely worth the visit!
And Botanika is also home to Asian Small-Clawed Otters Lotta and Otis als well as their offspring, two female Otters (almost a year old).
On this special day, they got a brand-new raft to play with. It also has some treats hidden inside pipes, as well as under water. The Otters were really excited!
I really wanted to post pictures, but uploading fails everytime I try.
>I really wanted to post pictures, but uploading fails everytime I try.Sorry about thatI fixed some things, try it again?
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If it works, you´ll see some happy Otters with their new raft.
That looks like great enrichment for them! I hope they had a great otterday and I'm glad you had a good time getting to see them
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Did you know otters can climb trees?
What can't they do???
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Interesting theory, it does sound like something otters would do. I wonder if otters prefer the bellyflop or the cannonball. This should be investigated
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>Otters can get in trees.They also fit nicely into treestumps!
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What do you call this sleeping position?
*prendere il sole*
>What do you call this sleeping position?Praise the sun!
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Welcome!
Please say hello in this thread when you're visiting otterchat.
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>There are 307 recently active users.Whaaat! don't be shy say hi
Hello!
Just been a heck of a month is all. I'm trying to move, work is crazy, I feel like I blink and a week flies by. Hopefully things will calm down again soon, I'm not a speedster after all.
hello!! I'm here from AllChan!!
Hello and welcome!
A place like no otter.
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Interesting imageboard..
very particular it is
Is it a place for talking about... Otters?
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Who knows...
Hahaha, that's a great illustration! Anyone could be at the keyboard, you just never know...
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I'm curious, how well do otters see at night? Do they have night vision so they can prowl in the dark?
And which otters are the most active at night?
I'm not sure, but I remember reading somewhere that they don't really use their eyes underwater, instead relying on their whiskers for sense. Which would suggest poorer eyesight in dark conditions, if true.
Also, I suspect that it is Eurasian otters that are most active at night, but that is only a suspicion.
This otter definitely sees at night, with glowing eyes like that. But I remember reading that otter's vision isn't their strongest sense, and they usually hunt with their whiskers underwater like said
I found this article where they tried to study activity patterns for neotropical otters, and this part was interesting..>The use of camera traps in two regions of Brazil, the Pantanal and the Atlantic Forest have revealed differing activity patterns in each area, this otter being diurnal in the former and nocturnal in the latterso I guess the only answer is "it depends"
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>Do they have night vision so they can prowl in the dark?
Indeed they have:
Hey otters,
I just discovered otterchat and wanted to share these conservation projects with you:
"Otterside": A Project in Germany, to create more/better/safer habitats for the eurasian otter:
https://www.otterside.de/spiel/
Bold**The Link to the website leads to a small browser game, where you can play as an eurasian otter!**Bold
"Aktion Fischotterschutz & Otterzentrum Hankensbüttel": Volunteers and Scientists working together, transforming german landscapes into more otter-friendly places, as well as educating people about the otters importance to nature. There is also a database for otter-spotters to enter their findings:
https://www.otterspotter.de
This is how we know, eurasian otter numbers are on the rise!
Otterzentrum Hankensbüttel is a Zoo where you can see eurasian Otters as well as other mustelids in their natural habitat and learn about them:
https://otterzentrum.de
Thanks to these projects/institutions, the almost extinct eurasian otter is reclaiming german nature!
Do you know other such projects in your area? Post them here!
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>Well, I was sitting at the front, close to the projector. I was wearing a grey otter hoodie. It´s quite possible, we´ve met at some point!Then we definitely did cause that's where I was sitting lol, I was red stripes guy
>At the end of this month, I will be at the otter-spotter inductionOh, it's worth the hype! there's a lot to learn, just don't do what I did and forget to bring proper boots.>Also, I´ve heard, there´s a new otter in Hankensbüttel. Have you heard about that?I read about something like that. And, I did hear they're wanting to introduce some more different otter species, which might be cool... though it would be quite a step from just having the locally present mustelids. I wonder how they'll do it.
>I read about something like that. And, I did hear they're wanting to introduce some more different otter species, which might be cool... though it would be quite a step from just having the locally present mustelids. I wonder how they'll do it.I guess Asian Small Clawed Otters are a good start. Although their unquenchable appetite, which will cost a lot of money and time, I´m pretty sure they will be one of the visitors favourite species. I mean- just look at them!But other Otter species? Maybe Lontra canadensis? They are a lot like our Eurasian Otter, so there´s no need for special enclosures or food.
Personally, I'm looking forward to the giant otter jungle biome
>Maybe Lontra canadensis?Or Lontra provocax too, their temperate climate is similar enough to here
>Or Lontra provocax too, their temperate climate is similar enough to hereThey also look quite similiar to our Eurasian Otter.>Personally, I'm looking forward to the giant otter jungle biomeThat would be awesome! Maybe convert Isenhagender See into a salt water lake and have a sea otter population in there, too?
All jokes aside, I really wonder, what will be the next new addition to our Otterzentrum. I bet, it´ll be great.
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