Is this Otter poo?

[DavyG]

I'd be grateful if anyone could help id the poo in the pic below, I think it may be Otter but I'm unsure.

The poo was fresh and appeared to be on top of some older poo, there was a defined track through the grass from the waters edge to the poo, distance from the waters edge was around 2 meters.

Thanks for any help.

Dave

[vole-woman]

Looking at the fish bones, I'd say so, but the definitive test is the smell. Did you sniff it? Otter poo is very distinctive, a sort of perfumed cod liver oil smell, not unpleasant at all. Mink, otoh, is foul.

[DavyG]

Unfortunately, I didn't think of getting closer to smell it.

I was fairly close when taking the photograph and there was no unpleasant smell.

We disturbed something earlier in the day when we first arrived at the site, it sounded like a large mammal as it moved through the reed beds and into the water, we didn't see anything other then the movement of something swimming underwater.

About 20 minutes later, I was stood on the bank opposite the last point we had seen movement when something swam directly towards me from the opposite bank leaving a trail of bubbles as it did so, it then veered off to my left but continued under the sunken branches of a tree, the bubble trail continued right to the point I lost sight of the movement, I did not see what was causing the trail though.

We found the poo about 100m away from this point.

Dave

[dampflippers]

I would say it is. Sounds like you need to stake it out with a nice comfy seat and some camouflage!

[Tracey.A]

Looks like otter poo to me, but as Vole woman said it's the smell that is the clincher.

Tracey

[Mark_b]

Originally Posted by Tracey.A

it's the smell that is the clincher.

Yeppers!

Originally Posted by DavyG

a trail of bubbles

Never seen it my self but I have been told that is a tell tail sign of an otter swimming underwater!

[DavyG]

Thanks for the replies, I'll be a tad quieter and more alert when we next visit the site.

dampflippers:

I have the comfy seat, the camouflage gear and the camera equipment, I just don't seem to be able to find the time!

Thanks again for all of your input, it's appreciated.

Dave