Welcome to Otterchat

>>4102

Hmm, good point. though id feel bad making them carry me anywhere. maybe we could take turns, they carry me for a while, i carry them for a while. Then in the end we celebrate a day well lived with fish.

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Are otters magnetic?

>>4102

If the floor was made of otters...
why would you have anywhere to go?

>>4470

> If the floor was made of otters..

You know "stop, drop and roll?"

>>4472

or as otters know it, "stop and roll"

>>3117

Though have to say otters seem like animals that are enough in tune with each other to plan complex things like that. They'd be able to solve problems together like (how do we steal the guy's bucket without him noticing).

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>>2029

How about a bucket full of water? I believe humans call that a pool

>>3443

That would be perfect for otters.
And that pic is just the cutest!

>>3443

Otters love otters in buckets

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>>2241

>>4443 (OP)

That's a great question, and I know how you feel, here's a few suggestions.
- Otter arts, do any kind of art with otters as the muse. I really like drawing simple cartoony otters for example, but it could apply to most artforms.
- Engage in otter studies, or otter-adjacent studies like river health, etc. I've read quite a few good books about otters, which is a good place to start. Perhaps the roles of otters in other cultures.
- Create tools for other otter enthusiasts, like this wonderful website. Or otherwise engage in nature conservation yourself (easier said than done ofc.)
Or, find hobbies that are otter adjacent, like hiking and camping (ideally by rivers or lakes )
Hope this helps :]

>>4443 (OP)

Have you tried Scuba-Diving? You love semi-aquatic mammals- just become one yourself!

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>>4444

>I really like drawing simple cartoony otters for example

I tried it

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>>4446

I can get into that.
>>4444

Those are some neat ideas too, so it comes down to art, books and other media, doing what you can to help otters and spendig time in nature in places where otters might hang out at. Looks like there's lots of ways to have fun with otts as you'd expect

>>4447

Spectacular!!

>>3527

I agree, that's definitely worth mentioning. IMO it's good to keep it short and sweet and get the point across. Why don't we both think about it and write something up? Maybe we can make it into a graphic, too.

>>3528

Sounds like a plan, I'll write something up tonight

Hey, did we ever finish something?

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Reviving this topic. This little idea came to me, what if you made something where you could learn about alll the different genera, the subfamilies of otter species and what makes them similar to each other and different from the rest? See all the connections... and stuff
^ starting with Aonyx here, sorry if it doesn't look super clean, I punched it into my phone with my fingers

>>4462

Hey, I really like this Poster! And yes, great idea.

That's so cool.!
When I heard ASCO i thought it would be in Malaysia or something, but no! it's in Florida.
it could be a genuinely good idea, as everyone knows otters are super talented especially under water. especially if they can actually rescue people and find stuff

>>4439 (OP)

Wow that's really cool! Thanks for sharing, otters seem very well suited to the work.

>>4427

What!? Where is this? Please tell me more :O

>>4432

Apparently, there is (or was) a small population around Oxford after some of them escaped from captivity, and they were quite successful. I found an article about it here
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/asian-otters-thrive-in-chilly-oxford-river-1346844.html

>>4433

1996 I would certainly be impressed if that population has survived.

>>4434

It's interesting if they did manage to adapt to the return of Eurasian otters, since they do share parts of the range in Asia and their diets are not the same. I wonder if anyone has studied them in the last 30 years.

>>4434

Since it´s a small, isolated population, they certainly would get problems with inbreeding. So, yeah, certainly a short lived phenomenon, yet still remarkable.

Does a spotted necked otter know that his neck is spotted?

>>3756

Spotted neck otters are excellent spotters, so I think most could spot when they're neck has been spotted. But I'm sure there are some younger otters whose spotting skills are spotty at best, they might not know.

If a spotted necked otter's neck is spotted and no one is around to spot it, does it have spots?

>>3758

Well how can it be spotted if no one is around to spot it! Of course the question remains, if you spot the otter but don't spot their spots, are they still spotted?

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Such a cool otter. Spotted necked otters' eyesight is really good and they tend to hunt by sight even underwater.

I really like this otter.

>>4418 (OP)

>Do you like this otter?

You know... it´s an otter! How can you NOT like it?

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>>4420

I did know it's an otter, but not everyone may know. So I made this educational image, informing people that it is an otter.

Awesome, I´d like to see this educational image as a poster on a billboard!

>>4371

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.

>>4392

>I really wanted to post pictures, but uploading fails everytime I try.

Sorry about that I fixed some things, try it again?

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>>4394

If it works, you´ll see some happy Otters with their new raft.

>>4395

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

>>4371

How'd the presentation go?

>>4405 (OP)

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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>>4407

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.