SPRING 2003 No. 16

Page 8

One Saturday in February a band of anglers and Bronwen Bruce from the Trust got together and built the holt. The Trust certainly knows how to publicise the event, also in attendance were photographers from the local newspaper and a cameraman from the local TV!

We choose a small coppice, which was situated between the main river and a small pond. This was an area we felt that Mr. and Mrs. Otter would love their home to be, handy for the river and if needed, a few eels form the pond.

We also decided to use an existing willow tree trunk as one corner of the holt. Bronwen then scratched an outline, including the inner chambers. These otters are mighty fussy on the layout and needed a number of interconnecting chambers which are dark and reasonably dry!

We fired up the chain saw and got busy collecting logs that would be used as the base and walls. It was a little disconcerting having a cameraman poking his lens, as you struggled with a particularly difficult log, but as they say – the show must go on! The logs were stacked into place and we were quickly onto the second layer of logs.

Once these were in place, poles are placed across the logs and chambers to form a roof. We used smaller pieces of wood to fill in the gaps to make the chambers darker and more water-resistant.

The final thing was to pile all the brashings on top to completely hide the logs and poles. We ended with a huge bonfire shaped construction and a home fit for Mr & Mrs Otter.

We tidied up and headed back to the cars and enjoyed a mug or two of hot vegetable soup... We now have to wait and see if Mr & Mrs Otter decide to use this holt – fingers crossed ... I'm sure your dying to know; yes we did appear on both the TV and local press!!

John Grindle, Dorchester Fishing Club

Thank you Environment Agency

The life of an area co-ordinator is not always an easy one. It can be quite difficult to keep a clear picture of what is going on 'otterwise' in a particular location, which stretches of a river are currently being monitored and where signs of otters have been found in the past. The Environment Agency has recently come to the rescue by providing each area co-ordinator in the group with a detailed computer generated map which shows current monitoring sites and locations of previous positive otter records, colour coded for each year since we began monitoring in 1997.

This co-operation is a good example of how large organisations like the EA can help small groups like us; while we in turn provide them with valuable information regarding the current status of the otter in Dorset.

Sandy Moores, who kindly created the maps for us, is just one of a number of members of the local Environment Agency team (based at Blandford) who take part in the Dorset Otter Group's seasonal surveys.

Incidentally, if anyone wants to make life even easier for area co-ordinators, can you make sure that you send in your completed monitoring form as soon as possible after you have completed your seasonal survey – even if all your results were negative, or you haven't had the time to carry out a survey. If you decide that you no longer wish to continue surveying do let your area co-ordinator know so that they can find a replacement.

Potter

Potter: Why are there no picture of otters in this newsletter?

Myself: Because there was no room.

Potter: I don't really see the point of a Newsletter which is supposed to be about otters but doesn't have any pictures.

Myself: Alright, here's a picture of an otter and I'll put extra pictures in the next issue, OK? – Now get back in your holt.

Potter: It's rather a small picture

Myself: Yicker, wicker, moan (with glare).

Contributions for the next Newsletter to:
Peter Irvine,
34 Bryanston Street,
Blandford,
Dorset
DT11 7AZ