 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Spring 2003 No. 16
Page 2
Autumn 2002 RESULTS
DORSET OTTER GROUP AUTUMN 2002 SURVEY RESULTS | ||||
| No. Surveyed | Positive | Negative | % Positive | |
| River Avon | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| River Axe | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50 |
| River Frome | 36 | 7 | 29 | 19.4 |
| River Piddle | 14 | 4 | 10 | 34.7 |
| Poole Harbour | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Upper Stour | 56 | 10 | 46 | 17.8 |
| Lower Stour | 42 | 7 | 35 | 16.6 |
| West Dorset Rivers | 33 | 11 | 22 | 33.3 |
| River Wey and the Fleet | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| River Yeo | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40 |
| TOTAL | 210 | 43 | 167 | 20.5 |
REMEMBER THE WINTER AND SPRING SURVEY IS NOW COMPLETE. THE SUMMER SURVEY RUNS FROM THE START OF JUNE TO THE END OF JULY WITH RESULTS DUE IN BY THE END OF AUGUST.
Autumn 2001 results gave 31.7% of all sites checked as positive, so we have seen another drop in results. I think for the Dorset Otter population to increase further we are going to have to see an expansion in the Otter population range to include the Wey, Fleet and Poole Harbour. However one is at least back on the Wey (let’s hope it stays) and we are getting odd records from Poole Harbour. Phillppa did find that spraint on the River Sherford during the Spring 2002 survey and this time round (not shown) a Otter-looking footprint was found on the River Corfe by Alison Washbrook. However, new area records can not be made confidently without spraint, it could have been mink and the group should seek to quote Otter distribution with 100% accuracy. Yet you can’t help feeling that maybe Otter collonisation of Poole Harbour and these small rivers that flow into it is just around the corner!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|