laurab
07-07-2006, 08:10 PM
Name is Stephen Urquhart and I am 43 years old. I am a member of the Dorset Wildlife Trust (D.O.G.) Dorset Otter Group.
I first became aware of the Otter group after reading an Ad in the Bournemouth Daily Echo over 4 years ago.
I contacted the number given and I was invited to an open evening at Lychett School, which I duly attended with approx. 12 other enthusiasts.
Two weeks’ after the first induction we all attended an open day at the DWT head office in Forston, Dorchester. I remember it quite clearly, it was a particularly beautiful sunny day, and after approx. 2-3 hours in a classroom we all ventured down to the river Axe near to Kingston Maurward College.
Here we had our first look at an Otter spraint, which I am sure you know is the dropping left by an Otter, and Otter tracks along the riverbank – it truly was a fascinating day, which all 13 members enjoyed.
After passing our induction we all signed up as members and have made new friends within the group.
Following the first phase, we were asked which areas we would like as our own personal survey area; as I live in Kinson I was asked if I could look after the Hampreston, Dudsbury, river Stour, Longham, Redhill and Hurn Court stretches. I willingly accepted and this area is better known as Target Area 35.
Each member can survey as little or as much as they want. Anything of interest is noted down i.e. spraints, sightings, tracks, Otter Holts or slides. Each survey is sent to the DWT in Dorchester who then study all the results and enter their findings on a database.
We are all issued with an information pack, folder and booklet, which gives us survey periods such as the four seasons, and each set of results are submitted quarterly.
Twice a year members gather in a particular area that has no allocated Otter spotters’ or very few, and we ‘blitz’ the area by covering as much ground as possible, time and weather permitting, sometimes with amazing results!
On 10 June 2006, some 24 members carried out a survey near Bridport. This took in the areas of West Milton, Powerstock, Asker and Mangerton – which have never been properly surveyed before. We found so much evidence of Otters in the area, such as spraints, tracks and also an old Otter Holt; the results were of great significance to us all.
The farmers and landowners in the area were fantastic; we were allowed to cross private land that we would not normally be allowed on and the countryside was beautiful.
We finished the day with a Cream Tea at Mangerton Mill; a great end to a perfect day.
Members of the Dorset Otter Group regularly receive newsletters with information of forth-coming events such as Blitz and training days and or social events. The Christmas party at Forston is always a huge success and the quiz is very popular.
Unfortunately, news isn’t always good as we often receive news of Otter road deaths from all over Dorset; and there are also the sad reports of Otters becoming trapped and drown in eel nets, which have not been fitted with the appropriate cover to stop Otters from getting in.
Thankfully, the Local Authorities and Law Courts recognise the fact that the Otter is a protected species, and come down quite heavily on those that break the law by not using the proper safety nets.
To finish on a good note, news is that the Otters are steadily increasing in number in most parts of Dorset.
There are still areas of Dorset that are not covered due to lack of members, so if you would like to join a very friendly, happy group of wildlife enthusiasts please contact me on Bournemouth 01202 259020 I will be happy to answer any queries that you may have on the Dorset Otter Group, DWT.
Steve is an old school friend of mine and Roger asked him to write the above, I hope you all enjoyed it. :wink:
http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/dorset/
I first became aware of the Otter group after reading an Ad in the Bournemouth Daily Echo over 4 years ago.
I contacted the number given and I was invited to an open evening at Lychett School, which I duly attended with approx. 12 other enthusiasts.
Two weeks’ after the first induction we all attended an open day at the DWT head office in Forston, Dorchester. I remember it quite clearly, it was a particularly beautiful sunny day, and after approx. 2-3 hours in a classroom we all ventured down to the river Axe near to Kingston Maurward College.
Here we had our first look at an Otter spraint, which I am sure you know is the dropping left by an Otter, and Otter tracks along the riverbank – it truly was a fascinating day, which all 13 members enjoyed.
After passing our induction we all signed up as members and have made new friends within the group.
Following the first phase, we were asked which areas we would like as our own personal survey area; as I live in Kinson I was asked if I could look after the Hampreston, Dudsbury, river Stour, Longham, Redhill and Hurn Court stretches. I willingly accepted and this area is better known as Target Area 35.
Each member can survey as little or as much as they want. Anything of interest is noted down i.e. spraints, sightings, tracks, Otter Holts or slides. Each survey is sent to the DWT in Dorchester who then study all the results and enter their findings on a database.
We are all issued with an information pack, folder and booklet, which gives us survey periods such as the four seasons, and each set of results are submitted quarterly.
Twice a year members gather in a particular area that has no allocated Otter spotters’ or very few, and we ‘blitz’ the area by covering as much ground as possible, time and weather permitting, sometimes with amazing results!
On 10 June 2006, some 24 members carried out a survey near Bridport. This took in the areas of West Milton, Powerstock, Asker and Mangerton – which have never been properly surveyed before. We found so much evidence of Otters in the area, such as spraints, tracks and also an old Otter Holt; the results were of great significance to us all.
The farmers and landowners in the area were fantastic; we were allowed to cross private land that we would not normally be allowed on and the countryside was beautiful.
We finished the day with a Cream Tea at Mangerton Mill; a great end to a perfect day.
Members of the Dorset Otter Group regularly receive newsletters with information of forth-coming events such as Blitz and training days and or social events. The Christmas party at Forston is always a huge success and the quiz is very popular.
Unfortunately, news isn’t always good as we often receive news of Otter road deaths from all over Dorset; and there are also the sad reports of Otters becoming trapped and drown in eel nets, which have not been fitted with the appropriate cover to stop Otters from getting in.
Thankfully, the Local Authorities and Law Courts recognise the fact that the Otter is a protected species, and come down quite heavily on those that break the law by not using the proper safety nets.
To finish on a good note, news is that the Otters are steadily increasing in number in most parts of Dorset.
There are still areas of Dorset that are not covered due to lack of members, so if you would like to join a very friendly, happy group of wildlife enthusiasts please contact me on Bournemouth 01202 259020 I will be happy to answer any queries that you may have on the Dorset Otter Group, DWT.
Steve is an old school friend of mine and Roger asked him to write the above, I hope you all enjoyed it. :wink:
http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/dorset/