Juvenile otters stay close to their
mothers as they learn to forage and
catch fish. They may be a year old
before they can fend for themselvesLaurie Campbell’s tips for tracking otters
O Otters can be easier to spot on the
SEASHORE. Coastal otters are more
predictable because their movements
are governed by the tides, hunting
most commonly on a falling or low
tide. Otters living in freshwater
environments have until recently
been largely nocturnal, but now it’s
not unusual to see otters out in the
middle of the day.ODroppings, known as SPRAINT, vary
according to diet. On the seashore, where
they feed on crustaceans, the spraint is pale
and crunchy, a bit like cat litter. On rivers
and wetlands, where they’re predominantly
feeding on fish, the spraint is black
or greyish, oily when fresh and
smells slightly sweet.
OSPRAINT SITES are also
used for communication –
serving as noticeboards
to other otters crossing
the same territory – so
droppings are often
deposited on prominent
boulders, logs and tussocks
of grass above the waterline
(left). You may see patches
on mossy boulders where the
accumulation of otter urine has
burnt the moss to a yellow-brown colour.
O‘Getting your eye in’ when it comes to
spotting otters involves getting a sense of
the SCALE OF THE ANIMAL in relation to the
wider landscape. Otters are easily overlooked,
especially when they’re in moving water, as
they present a very low profile. The sleek
animals allow only a glimpse of their heads,
bodies and tails to show above the surface.OOtter-width PATHS AND TUNNELS
through waterside vegetation can be visible
in the wider landscape (right), as well as
‘slides’ into the water. Flattened grass near
the water’s edge can be a clue that otters
have rolled around to dry themselves.
OPRINTS will be left on the mud or
sand by the water’s edge. Otters have
five forward-facing toes; dogs and foxes
have four. The fifth toe doesn’t always
leave a print unless the mud is soft, but
the rounded prints are arranged in a
semi-circle and are asymmetrical
without the fifth toe.72 BBC WILDLIFE December 2021
ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Laurie Campbell is a self-taught
naturalist who has
spent almost 50 years
photographing Scottish
wildlife. He was excited
to capture otters at
once-depleted rivers.
Visit lauriecampbell.com