New Otter Spotters for Exmoor & North Devon

New Otter Spotters for Exmoor & North Devon On Saturday 26 February Devon Biodiversity Records Centre (DBRC) found the sun shining and a full turn out at their Otter Spotter training day on Exmoor. For many years 'Operation Otter' has been a county wide monitoring project which has been vital for tracking this elusive mammal's recovery. Volunteers are often keen to be involved but funding to provide training days is not always available. This year South West Water generously supported DBRC and funded a classroom session in the morning, followed by identification skills sessions on the riverbank during the afternoon. Ellie Knott & Caroline Jones from DBRC have both been involved with the project from its earliest days and conducted the day's training. They were both delighted that twenty-one potential 'otter spotters' could attend the day resulting in 19 new sites being assigned to volunteers, 16 or which are in the North Devon area. Caroline said ''we are really pleased to have trained up some new people in the North of the county, as it has been some time since we could offer this support in that area''. During 2011 the Environment Agency issued a positive report on the otter's comeback. As a top predator it can be used as a guide to how a river's eco-system is functioning. Devon now has otters in all of its major rivers and Devon Wildlife Trust's waterside headquarters in Exeter, is often visited by at least one adult. Ian Egerton, Devon Biodiversity Records Centre's Manager, said: "It is important that DBRC continue to run monitoring projects such as this. Hopefully funding will be found to run similar days in other parts of the county as the interest this event generated has left us with a waiting list of other potential volunteers''.

Otter_spotter_training_day_copyright Mark_Haworth-Booth

Otterly in love at Valentines - public show fondness for Adopt a Species scheme

Devon Wildlife Trust's (DWT) is offering its popular adopt a species scheme this month suggesting to supporters that it is a great alternative gift for Valentines Day. The adopt a species scheme, launched in 2009 through the DWT website, www.devonwildlifetrust.org and allows people to support the Trust's conservation work in Devon, protecting habitats and species for future generations to enjoy. People can choose to 'adopt' from a list of five lovable species: dormouse, otter, dolphin, bat and hedgehog. With each £20 donation, purchasers will receive a soft toy of their chosen species along with a welcome letter, fact sheet, certificate, a postcard of the species, a fun activity book, a pack of six colouring pencils and an update letter after six months. DWT's Phoebe Grubb said: 'This is a great way for people to support our work - adopt a species makes the perfect gift for nature loving adults at this time of the year! The packs come with great little cuddly animals and are a really nice way to show your love for someone special.' The money raised through the scheme goes towards the costs of carrying out conservation work throughout the county benefiting these species and the habitats that they need to thrive. To adopt a species today, visit www.devonwildlifetrust.org or call Devon Wildlife Trust on 01392 279244.

Photo Otter copyright Darin Smith

North Devon otter video makes a splash at film festival!

A film capturing wild otters in their natural environment shot by Devon Wildlife Trust's Senior Nature Reserves Officer Gary Pilkington has been shortlisted for an award. Gary managed to film the family of otters one day when out working on Marsland Nature Reserve near Hartland. The footage which has already had thousands of views on You Tube was submitted to the Borderlines Film Festival at the end of the year. Now it has been shortlisted for the Under Open Skies Harry Williamson Award for the best amateur and professional films on Britain's natural world. This is the first time the competition has been run and it was set up in honour of Harry Williamson, a very dedicated and prolific amateur film-maker. The prize is sponsored by Wyevale Nurseries. Borderlines Film Festival runs throughout Herefordshire and Shropshire and will screen at 37 venues from 25 March to 10 April. With over 220 screenings and events it is the UK's largest rural film festival. Gary said: "It's great to be shortlisted for this award, I have managed this reserve for more than 20 years and never seen an otter so it was a shock and real surprise to be in the right place in the right time with my camera at hand. The otters didn't seem to mind me being around at all and as the footage shows the two young ones had probably not had any contact with humans, they seemed fully at ease playing about in the stream." Gary will find out in early April whether he has won the prize.

Here is the video for you all to enjoy

Good Luck Gary