Eurasian otter
spraints were collected while monitoring the movements of an individual escaped from an otter centre (Ferrari et al.
The results presented here were obtained from analyses of 81 fecal samples (
spraints) collected during January 2005-December 2008 at three sites in the Santiago River, Nayarit/Jalisco, Mexico (elevation 245-480 m, 22[degrees]C mean temperature, 800-1000 mm annual rainfall): confluence of the Bolanos river (Number of
spraints = 13; reference point: 21[degrees].192174, -104[degrees].067054), El Cajon reservoir (N = 52; 21[degrees].119621, -103[degrees].977932), and Santo Domingo (N = 16; 21[degrees].427587, -104[degrees].437750).
Evaluation of methods used for diet analysis of the Neotropical otter Lontra longicaudis (Carnivora, Mustelidae) based on
spraints. Mammalian Biology 74:230-235.
The standard methodology for otter surveys is to look for
spraints (droppings) for a distance of up to 600 m from what is considered to be a suitable sprainting site, such as under a bridge or at the confluence of two streams/rivers.
These sweet-smelling droppings, or
spraints as they are known, belong to an otter.
Otter faeces (hereafter:
spraints) were collected seasonally from the banks, on standard routes ca 4-km long (see Fig.
Water mammals have also suffered greatly, with water vole holes and otter
spraints (making recording difficult) being washed away in the heavy floods.
The use of
spraints to survey population of otters (Lutra lutra).
They are shy and travel at night, with their presence usually only given away by '
spraints' - otter droppings.
The survey's results were based on evidence of the species' distinctive jasmine tea-scented droppings known as
spraints, and their five toe footprints.
We search for the fresh-water pools they use for bathing and for
spraints (that's otter poo).
Eight
spraints were observed on a piece of land almost 700 m inward from the embankment towards the inside of main reservoir (26o 09' 295" N, 68o 59' 859" E).