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Otter (Lutra lutra) is a species which is strongly associated with water courses such as rivers, canals, lakes, estuaries and coastal areas. Otters shelter and breed in structures called holts, which are often cavities formed under tree roots on the banks of water courses. Otter is a European Protected Species and as such are afforded full legal protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and by the Habitat Regulations 1994, which make it an offence to kill, injure, capture, or disturb otters, or to damage or destroy the habitats they use for shelter and protection. Actions that are prohibited by the above legislation can be made lawful on granting of a licence by the appropriate statutory authority.
Unlike many protected species, otter surveys are not seasonally constrained but optimum conditions are when vegetation does not obscure holt entrances, or field signs such as paw prints or spraints. GreenLink Ecology Ltd is able to undertake all aspects of otter survey work, including preliminary site investigations, licence applications and mitigation schemes. If you think otter may be a constraint to your project, or have been asked to commission an otter survey by the Local Planning Authority, contact us.
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