This content requires Adobe Flash Player version
or later.
Either you do not have Adobe Flash Player installed,
or your version is too old,
or there is a problem with your Flash installation and we were unable to detect it.
maintained from February through to November by territorial individuals (Strachan and Moorhouse, 2011).
Surveys involved an intensive search of the bank side and water-edge habitat, searching for Water Vole field signs including:
• burrows; • feeding platforms and evidence of feeding; • food remains; • latrines; and • footprints.
2.3 Field Survey – European Otter 2.3.1 Habitat Assessment
An initial assessment of all watercourses, areas of wetland and adjacent habitat was made for their suitability for European Otters. This included an assessment of water depth, water quality, vegetation and cover.
2.3.2 Evidence of European Otter Activity
A thorough and systematic search of all suitable habitat was made for signs indicating use by European Otter, including the following: • footprints; • slides; • feeding evidence; • spraint (droppings); • holts (underground resting places); and • couches (temporary resting places).
Any evidence found was mapped where encountered (Figure 24.7.2). 2.4 Constraints
Many of the features surveyed were dry, shallow or overgrown at the time of survey making them unsuitable or sub-optimal habitat at this time of year (June and July). Where features were overgrown there is inherent difficulties with effectively surveying for evidence of both European Otter and Water Vole.
East Anglia Offshore Wind Limited
Water Vole and Otter Technical Report 854188 (Rev 02)