The Otter Network is a collection of specialists in otter survey techniques, data collection and research.
When completing survey work so many of you expressed an interest in what we were doing that we decided to create a space where you could find out more and get involved.
Have a look through our pages and get in touch.
Please send us all of your otter records - road kill, live sightings, signs.
Anti-social activity should be reported to the police in the first instance but we are grateful to receive copies of such data.
We are also keen to receive any records of American mink in order to increase our knowledge of their distribution and abundance. Please send us any sightings or field signs.
Our Vision
To encourage, inform and co-ordinate volunteers from Northumberland, County Durham and Darlington to participate and be active in local conservation and research of the Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra), as guided by experienced board members, whilst creating a central contact for existing otter enthusiasts. The group maintains wider connections to national and international forums to aid otter conservation, education, and research.
Events & Workshops
2020 Spring Otter Survey
Preparations are underway for next year's Spring Otter Survey which will take place over the weekend of 25th/26th April. We are hoping to introduce an electronic data collection system using an online system and smart phone app called Epicollect5 this time and would be grateful for any volunteers who would like to test it out over the next couple of months to get in touch.
Annual Spring Otter Survey
The 2019 Annual Spring Otter Survey took place over the weekend of 27th/28th April.
The survey looks for signs of otters with volunteer surveyors checking the same sites on consecutive days across County Durham, the North Pennines, the Tees Valley, Darlington, Newcastle, Sunderland, Gateshead and south Northumberland.
The data are now being processed and the results will be published here as soon as they are available.
Otter Talks
Lizzie and Vivien are both available to give talks on various aspects of otter ecology if your group would like one. Lizzie is based in Northumberland and Vivien in Durham so we can reach most locations. Please get in touch via the Contact page of the website if you are interested.