VIDEOS: Otter at spawning ground

Submitted by Looduskalender EN on Sun, 04.12.2016 - 10:42
Autorid

Videos recorded by Aita, LK forum
Translation Liis

 

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Otter    Harilik saarmas    Lutra lutra

The otter belongs to the indigenous Estonian species and is a mammal protected by law. We have to do with an extremely mobile animal whom scientists have difficulties in monitoring.

With a good hearing and sense of smell it distinguishes moving objects in water as well as on land easily. In contrast an unmoving observer at the river bank may not be noticed.

Permanent watchers of the trout spawning camera already know that an otter doesn’t operate for long periods in the same hunting territory. It lets the spawning ground calm down and appears again after some time. Windy weather and water ripples allow it to attack the trout that have lost their caution at the spawning successfully.

The number of otters has been very variable over time: during the low level in the 80ies of last century their number was estimated at only five hundred individuals, but today the number has increased to the threefold. The interim decline in numbers is thought to have been caused by toxic substances in the environment and intensive hunting.

The increasing number of otters evidently in turn reduces the number of the non-native mink or American mink since the stronger otter drives the impudent competitor off from its territory. Changes in nature don’t happen rapidly but gradually over time.

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The life of otters will be introduced in the next few days.

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