Member Article

Otters, DNA and People’s Postcode Lottery

Northumberland Wildlife Trust is now able to carry out its first county-wide otter survey since 2002, thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery - great news for the Trust and for otters.

As a wildlife organisation, the Trust has always been at the forefront of otter conservation in the region and indeed set the blueprint for otter projects across the country throughout the 1980s and 1990s; in fact, the Trust’s county surveys formed a baseline for what conservationists in the region know about otter distribution, and how to survey for their presence, both regionally and nationally.

However, for some time it has been unable to carry out specific otter conservation work due largely to changing priorities and lack of funding, but the species has always remained a priority for the area.

Now, thanks to the generosity of players of the charity lottery, Kevin O’Hara, Trust Conservation Officer, and small mammals expert will be able to survey a large number of sites across the whole county.

Armed with rubber gloves, small sticks and sample bags Kevin and his team will be collecting samples of otter spraint (droppings) some of which will be sent to the Waterford Institute, Eire for DNA analysis which may indicate numbers, sex, individuals present at each location, with any movement between sites possibly giving an indication of population i.e. actual numbers and range size.

It will also identify specific genetic markers showing the origin of Northumberland’s otters and whether there are any possible inherent problems within the population - all vital to the conservation of the species.

Kevin O’Hara said: “The support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery is fabulous news for otters in the region as the money will also be used to train my team of volunteers, liaise with landowners regarding survey permissions, as well as delivering the DNA analysis, report writing and publication of results - it really is vital for our conservation efforts in the region, so please keep playing.”

Kevin is looking for volunteers to join him on the project team from June onwards and would love to hear from anybody who would like to get involved, the more the merrier, so please call Emma Craig or Sarah Marley for an informal chat on: (0191) 2846884. Some experience of mammal tracking would be advantageous, but not essential, as full training will be given.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sue Bishop .