Otter Surveys

Where a watercourse or suitable surrounding habitat has been identified as suitable for otter, further species specific surveys comprising a detailed visual search of the watercourse, and surrounding 100m where accessible, will be undertaken. Field signs include live or dead otters, holts, dens, couches, tracks and spraint. Complementary survey methods may include the deployment of trail cameras to record otter activity.

Otter surveys can be undertaken all year round however, cannot be completed during or immediately following periods of heavy rain and high-water levels as this can wash away evidence of otter presence.

Where otter may be impacted by proposed development, an otter mitigation licence may be required from the relevant statutory authority. The level of mitigation that will be required is dependent upon the scale of proposed impact.