About Otters
The European otter (Lutra lutra) is widely recognised as an emblem for nature conservation in the UK because it is a top predator and an important biological indicator of the health of our rivers and wetlands. Monitoring the status of the otter therefore gives us a valuable measure of the state of our water and wetland ecosystems.
In Wales as in much of the UK, it is a largely nocturnal animal and is rarely observed in the wild. It is however possible to detect its presence by searching for its distinctive droppings (spraints) and footprints.
Otters have been recorded on all rivers in the Vale – most records through the NRW surveys above but these surveys tend to be a snapshot, very limited survey period and do not capture lots of known records.
The Council and Cardiff University Otter Project have received lots of otter sightings through anecdotal records from members of the public, wildlife cameras and on social media sites – e.g. several recent records from Porthkerry Country Park, Fonmon Estate, Rhoose Point, Cosmeston, Lavernock and Llantwit beach area. We would like to build a better picture of otter populations throughout the Vale.