Surveyors

Our core surveying work is to check our sites each season and record what we find.
Other checks include checking road bridges for otter safety improvements. The seasonal surveys generally take up to a day for every six sites that you survey.
 
We start volunteers off with training on how to look at potential sites and what to look for. As with everything the more experienced and confident you are, the easier it is to survey. Otters do spraint in obvious places though so it isn’t hard to find them. This is aided by the fact that we have a good otter population in Dorset.

With time, we progress on to look for other species such as the nationally declining water vole.

Checking a Site

The forms and information pack list the data that must be recorded and how to fill them in.

Download extra copies of the spot check form.

Survey periods