The DMG Otter Spraint Project.Text Compiled by Ken Hutchinson May 2015
DMG OTTER SPRAINT PROJECT. Fresh Otter Spraint was collected from the New Forest Wildlife Park, on behalf of the DMG for the Otter Spraint Project. The Goals of this Project are to :- 1). Monitor the fresh Spraint under various weather conditions of temperature, humidity, wind direction and speed, air pressure and site location. eg.sun, shade, ground composition. Thus affecting texture, colour, and decomposition rate and deteriotation of odour. Also various insect activity on the spraint attributing to its deterioration. 2). The Aim of the above is to help to clarify the ageing process of the Otter Spraint, therefore assisting the regular DMG Otter Surveys to ascertain a clearer picture of the Otter population in each particular habitat. Thus helping to identify the age of the spraint and when it may have been left by the Otter more accurately. Photos of the Spraint were taken daily and a data record of the Findings recorded.
Otter Spraint Project Sites. Four Samples A ~B~C~D sample A~ South Facing, Sunny, on Ground. Sample B~ East Facing, in Shade, on Stone. Sample C ~ East Facing, in Shade, on Ground Sample D ~ South Facing, Sunny, on Ground, Permanently Dry.
Sample Spraint Otter Diet. Roach, Bream, Trout, Salmon, Herring, Cray Fish and Quail. Day old Chick, Chicken, Minced Beef and Grated Veg ( Carrot, Potato).
ODOUR TEST. Odour Range ~ Weak 0 to Strong 10 Sample A. ~ B. ~ C. ~ D. Day 1. 10. 10. 10. 10. Day 2. 9. 10. 10. 9. Day 3. 8. 9. 9. 9. Day 4. 8. 9. 9. 8. Day 5. 7. 9. 9. 7. Day 6. 5. 8. 8. 5. Day 7. 3. 4. 5. 3. Day 8. 2. 3. 4. 2. Day 9. 1. 2. 2. 1. Day 10. 0. 1. 1. 0.
Otter Spraint Project (24hrs). Day 1. Odour (Range 0 to 10). Sample A ~ 10. B ~ 10. C ~ 10. D ~ 10. UV Range ~ 5 Weather Conditions ~ Cloudy. Temperature (C) ~ 9C to 13C. Wind Speed (mph) ~ 3 to 12 mph. Wind Direction ~ NE (am) ~ SW (pm). Humidity ~ 67% to 91%. Pressure (Millibars) ~ 1020 to 1024.
SAMPLE A DAY 1 SAMPLE B Sample C Sample D
Otter Spraint Project (24hrs). Day 2. Odour (Range 0 to 10). Sample A ~ 9. B ~ 10. C ~ 10. D ~ 9. UV Range ~ 4 Weather Conditions ~ Cloud,Early Drizzle, Sunny Spells, Breezy. Temperature (C) ~ 9C to 15C. Wind Speed (mph) ~ 9 to 14 mph. Wind Direction ~ WSW to NW. Humidity ~ 48% to 91%. Pressure (Millibars) ~ 1022 to 1031.
Sample A DAY 2 Sample B Sample C Sample D
Otter Spraint Project (24hrs). Day 3. Odour (Range 0 to 10). Sample A ~ 8. B ~ 9. C ~ 9. D ~ 9. UV Range ~ 6 Weather Conditions ~ Dry, some Sunshine, Patchy Rain in evening. Temperature (C) ~ 5C to 13C. Wind Speed (mph) ~ 5 to 14 mph. Wind Direction ~ WNW~W~WSW~SW~WSW. Humidity ~ 57% to 83%. Pressure (Millibars) ~ 1019 to 1029.
Sample A DAY 3 Sample B Sample C Sample D
Otter Spraint Project (24hrs). Day 4. Odour (Range 0 to 10). Sample A ~ 8. B ~ 9. C ~ 9. D ~ 8. UV Range ~5 Weather Conditions ~ Wet start, Breezy, Sunny spells, then Heavy Showers. Temperature (C) ~ 9C to 13C. Wind Speed (mph) ~ 11 to 42 mph. Wind Direction ~ WSW~SW~SSW~SW~W~WSW. Humidity ~ 44% to 94%. Pressure (Millibars) ~ 1005 to 1011.
SAMPLE A DAY 4 SAMPLE B SAMPLE C SAMPLE D
Otter Spraint Project (24hrs). Day 5. Odour Range (0 to 10). Sample A ~ 7. B ~ 9. C ~ 9. D ~ 7. UV Range ~5 Weather Conditions ~ Cloudy, wet start,windy with sunny spells, Showers heavy. Temperature (C) ~ 8C to 12C. Wind Speed (mph) ~ 10 to 18 mph. Wind Direction ~ WSW~W~WNW. Humidity ~ 54% to 83%. Pressure (Millibars) ~ 1004 to 1011.
SAMPLE A DAY 5 SAMPLE C SAMPLE B SAMPLE D
Otter Spraint Project (24hrs). Day 6. Odour (Range 0 to 10). Sample A ~ 5. B ~ 8. C ~ 8. D ~ 5. UV Range ~ 5 Weather Conditions ~ Dry, Bright and Sunny Light cloud. Temperature (C) ~ 6C to 14C. Wind Speed (mph) ~ 9 to 13 mph. Wind Direction. ~ WNW~NW~WNW Humidity ~ 50% to 83%. Pressure (Millibars) ~ 1012 to 1024.
Sample A DAY 6 Sample B Sample C Sample D
Otter Spraint Project (24hrs). Day 7. Odour (Range 0 to 10). Sample A ~ 3. B ~ 4. C ~ 5. D ~ 3. UV Range ~ 5 Weather Conditions ~ Dry,Cloud, Sunny spells, Light Winds, Warmer. Temperature (C) ~ 8C to 16C. Wind Speed (mph) ~ 5 to 12 mph. Wind Direction ~ WNW~NW~W~WSW~W~WNW. Humidity ~ 55% to 90%. Pressure (Millibars) ~ 1025 to 1028.
Sample A DAY 7 Sample B Sample C Sample D
Otter Spraint Project (24hrs). Day 8. Odour (Range 0 to 10). Sample A ~ 2. B ~ 3. C ~ 4. D ~ 2. UV Range ~ 4 Weather Conditions ~ Sunny Intervals, Light Wind, Dry. Temperature (C) ~ 9C to 16C. Wind Speed (mph) ~ 6 to 8 mph. Wind Direction ~ W~WSW~W~WNW~NW. Humidity ~ 78% to 92%. Pressure (Millibars) ~ 1024 to 1028.
Sample A DAY 8 Sample B Sample C Sample D
Otter Spraint Project (24hrs). Day 9. Odour (Range 0 to 10). Sample A ~ 1. B ~ 2. C ~ 2. D ~ 1. UV Range ~ 6 Weather Conditions ~ Dry, Sunny spells, Warmer. Temperature (C) ~ 11C to 18C. Wind Speed (mph) ~ 4 to 9 mph. Wind Direction ~ NNW~N~NNE~N~WSW~SW. Humidity ~ 58% to 92%. Pressure (Millibars) ~ 1023 to 1025.
Sample A DAY 9 Sample B Sample C Sample D
Otter Spraint Project (5hrs). Day 10. Odour (Range 0 to 10). Sample A ~ 0. B ~ 1. C ~ 1. D ~ 0. UV Range ~ 6 Weather Conditions ~Dry, Cloudy. Temperature (C) ~ 11C to 12C. Wind Speed (mph) ~ 5 to 7 mph. Wind Direction ~ SE~SSE~S~SW. Humidity ~ 90% to 95%. Pressure (Millibars) ~ 1021 to 1023.
Sample A DAY 10 Sample B Sample C Sample D