This public event will introduce participants to the otters at the King's Channel, Co. Waterford. Dr Denise O'Meara will show people how to spot signs of otter activity like footprints and spraints (faeces). Participants will also learn how otter spraints can be used for DNA testing to learn more in-depth information about the local otter population, like the number of otters present and if they are male or female.
Booking
Attendance is free but booking is required. For more information about the event, and to book a place, please click here.
The Waterford Estuary Otter Survey
The Waterford Estuary Otter Survey is a new project that Dr O'Meara is leading and is part-funded by the The Heritage Council. The aim of the project is to teach citizen scientists how to survey for otter activity in the Waterford Estuary SAC, and to collect spraints (faeces) for DNA analysis at Waterford Institute of Technology. DNA analysis will be used to the confirm the species, identify the gender of the spraint, and to inform an estimate of the minimum number of otters present in the estuary. Novel DNA tests will be developed to detect protected fish species in the otter diet. For more information about this and other work that Denise is involved with please visit http://www.domeara.org/