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|  » Stats |
Members: 50,157
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| | Welcome to our newest member, Ye Olde Justin | |  | 
30-01-2011, 01:02 PM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 13
| | | Prey remains from spraint anaysis
Hi all,
Does anyone know the methodology to identify hair remains in spraints? Also how would you identify a mink hair from a key?? What are the main characteristics that make it different from other mammal fur?  |
31-01-2011, 10:12 AM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: North East
Posts: 718
| | | Re: Prey remains from spraint anaysis
I've done an owl pellet on a course, and we put the pellet in water so it softened, then picked pieces out with forceps, cocktail sticks etc and laid them out on kitchen paper.
I assume a spraint would be done in the same way, but I'd definitely wear rubber or polythene gloves!
For an otter you'd be looking for fish scales, fish and frog bones and other small mammal bones and hairs.
Are you using the analysis to see what it has been eating, or to identify who it belongs to?
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31-01-2011, 10:13 AM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: North East
Posts: 718
| | | Re: Prey remains from spraint anaysis
Just re read it and you're just talking about hairs- try the mammal society as they run lots of courses.
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31-01-2011, 10:18 AM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: North East
Posts: 718
| | | Re: Prey remains from spraint anaysis
Just re read it and you're just talking about hairs- try the mammal society as they run lots of courses. http://www.sussexotters.org/pdf/Mink...nservation.pdf
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31-01-2011, 10:20 AM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Posts: 758
| | | Re: Prey remains from spraint anaysis
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrsNibblet  Hi all,
Does anyone know the methodology to identify hair remains in spraints? Also how would you identify a mink hair from a key?? What are the main characteristics that make it different from other mammal fur? | The methodology involves the comparison of colour, form and length of hair and the structure of the cuticula, medulla and cross-sections.
This publication might be a useful starting place for you : Hair of West European Mammals: Atlas and Identification Key by BJ Teerink
It includes keys for mustelids including mink (but not necessarily American Mink).
Last edited by valleyforge; 31-01-2011 at 10:27 AM.
|
31-01-2011, 11:03 AM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 13
| | | Re: Prey remains from spraint anaysis
yes I saw that book but it's so expensive....I was hoping perhaps someone would have done it and could offer me some words of wisdom lol....but thank you all  |
31-01-2011, 12:20 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: On the southern boundary of the Lake District National Park.
Posts: 4,584
| | | Re: Prey remains from spraint anaysis
It's just my gut feeling but you might have to look at a great number of spraints to find mink hair or just be very, very lucky.
One of the most recent comprehensive spraint collections was undertaken in 09/10 in England and Wales by the surveyors in the EA's 5th Otter Survey.
Apparently the spraints will be analysed and it may be worth dropping a line to the manager of the survey, Andrew Crawford at the EA's Lichfield office, to see if there's any chance of getting results.
You'll be aware of this report, here's the link for anyone interested. http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk..._report(1).pdf
A limited number of hard copies are now available.
Last edited by The Woodman; 31-01-2011 at 12:28 PM.
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