016a246b-6c33-4847-8306-be03c4d08a6b eng dataset Digital and Data Solutions, JNCC data@jncc.gov.uk pointOfContact 2018-05-17 England Otter Survey Database 2004-11-16 2004-11-16 016a246b-6c33-4847-8306-be03c4d08a6b As part of a scheme to monitor the distribution of otters throughout the UK, four England otter survey have been carried out covering the years 1977-79, 1984-85 and 1991-94, and 2000-02. In the first national survey, alternate 50-km squares - the north-west and the south-east quarters of each 100-km square - of the National Grid were surveyed to geographically represent cover of all regions (giving a total of 2940 in the first survey). The second survey (funded by The Vincent Wildlife Trust) in 1984-86 added four more 50-km squares (that were deemed unlikely to have otters in the first survey) giving a total of 3189 sites, all of which were re-surveyed in 1991-94 (The Vincent Wildlife Trust). In the 2000-02 (The Environment Agency) surveyed all alternate 50-km squares in England were surveyed, making the total of 38 50-km (and partial) squares and 3327 sites. Sites were selected by accessibility and likelihood of finding signs of otter activity - typically road bridges and the confluences of watercourses. The number of sites visited per square varied. The number of spraints and presence of mink was also recorded. There are also Otter Survey databases for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland following the same protocol at differing resolutions. Digital and Data Solutions, JNCC data@jncc.gov.uk distributor Freshwater Terrestrial UK Biodiversity England Mink Otter Released under the Open Government Licence v3.0 otherRestrictions No limitations eng biota -6.0 2.0 49.76 56.0 1977 2002 Comma Separated Values Unknown https://registry.nbnatlas.org/public/show/dr494 dr494 Four surveys were conducted at the 50km square level following a standard protocol. This protocol was to search up to 600m of one bank of a water body from a starting point (grid referenced), either all in one direction or split between two directions. Searching stopped as soon as signs of activity were noted in the 1977-79 and 2000-02 surveys, the full 600m being surveyed in the intervening surveys.