Wildlife

Wild Otter Spraint Survey and Monitoring

Otter spraint surveys are used to monitor population distribution and health, helping to target welfare interventions where most needed.

Key Facts

Spraints contain DNA allowing individual otter identification
National otter surveys using spraint presence have tracked recovery since the 1970s
Chemical analysis of spraint reveals diet and prey availability
Decline in sprainting at a site may indicate territory loss or mortality
Spraint surveys are a non-invasive welfare monitoring tool

Welfare Considerations

Otter spraint surveys reveal population status without requiring capture or handling. Identifying areas of poor territorial success or prey depletion through survey data enables targeted conservation and welfare management. Survey data provides the evidence base for river improvement and road crossing interventions that protect otter welfare.

What You Can Do

Join otter spraint survey programmes through local wildlife trusts
Support non-invasive population monitoring for otters
Donate to organisations using survey data to target welfare interventions