Suspected spraint

muscardinus · #1 (**permalink**) 14-02-2010, 09:53 AM

Is this otter spraint? I appreciate it's not easy to tell from photos!

There were 3 droppings, and they were jet-black, tarry and oily (especially at one end), some with traces of what look like fish bones and scales, and they were placed on a low grassy tussock on the bank of a small trout pond in a quiet wooded valley, about a metre from the water's edge.

They are not like any droppings I've seen before (and I'm pretty familiar with badger and fox). It would be really good to get confirmation.

Otters are known to be in this part of Somerset, but as far as I know there have not been definite records from my valley.

vole-woman · #2 (**permalink**) 14-02-2010, 10:40 AM

It could well be. The definitive test is to sniff: otter spraint smells faintly perfumy and fishy, like cod liver oil mixed with jasmine tea. I've never smelt mink scat, but apparently it's vile and 'meaty'. Sniffing the spraint tells you straight away (though it might earn you some funny looks).

Fish bones and scales sounds likely for otters.

vole-woman · #3 (**permalink**) 14-02-2010, 10:42 AM

Lots of pics of otter spraint on my blog here: About a Brook: otter If you scroll down to Sunday 12th July, there's a pic very similar to yours.

Dogghound · #4 (**permalink**) 14-02-2010, 02:15 PM

Spot on these are otter droppings. These are often very tarry exactly like these. The placement on a tussock is also diagnostic of a territorial marker.