Otter Spraint experts, help please!

nigel_b · #1 (**permalink**) 05-12-2010, 04:12 PM

Here's my babies:

but today while checking the spraint sites two of them had this pale/cloudy mucus type spraint instead of what we were expecting.

Anybody any idea what's happening please? 75% of the large freshwater pool the otters (mum and one surviving cub) are in is frozen over at the moment including this bit on the first photo that I took a couple of weeks back.

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 05-12-2010, 05:13 PM

Otter spraints often contain this mucus so its nothing to really worry about. It could be something simple such as a change in diet due to the current conditions, or due to a receptive female. This mucus often has a lot of smell and is primarily how they scent mark, sometimes its more concentrated.

nigel_b · #3 (**permalink**) 06-12-2010, 10:34 AM

Ok thanks, is it an indication of the onset of starvation possibly and if so what could or should be done, if anything?

Dogghound · #4 (**permalink**) 06-12-2010, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nigel_b

Ok thanks, is it an indication of the onset of starvation possibly and if so what could or should be done, if anything?

No its nothing to do with lack of food. This mucus is produced in an anal sac, these secretions are almost always added to droppings to advertise territory and sexual condition etc. In winter otters dont particularly fare that badly as the bulk of their diet is fish. They can get to these more easily in winter as they tend to shoal up in deeper water. Once the otter finds them it can make multiple returns to that area.

If you say there is a female which has had a cub (which is quite mature?) then its possible that its the female letting males know shes ready to breed.