Otter Video Monitoring Project

After dramatic declines, otters are making a comeback to many parts of the UK including Cheshire. Thanks in part to the conservation work undertaken by Cheshire Wildlife Trust, otters are gradually appearing more frequently throughout Cheshire’s waterways. Evidence of the Eurasian Otter is now being found in areas where their presence has not been recorded for many years.

However, they are elusive animals and therefore rarely seen. The Trust’s new and exciting project will monitor otter activity using an infrared video camera, which will be installed on secure sites where recent signs of otters have been found. It is hoped this project will provide information that compliments the traditional survey methods of looking for field signs such as spraint or footprints. If juveniles are recorded we will be able to confirm that otters are breeding in Cheshire.

The project will give more people a chance to have a look at the UK’s largest carnivore in Cheshire. It will also help to raise awareness of the otter, which is native to the UK and where it is afforded complete statutory protection due to its scarce status. So, watch this space, we hope to put successful footage onto this website soon!

This project is jointly funded by the Environment Agency, Chester Zoo and the Sandstone Ridge ECO-net Partnership (SREP).