Preliminary Study of the Tracks of Captive Otters (Lutra Lutra) as a Tool for Field Research

For several years, spraints and prints have allowed the presence of Eurasian Otters, Lutra lutra, to be established in a non-invasive way. Prints are very variable, even from the same individual, depending on the substrate: snow, sand, silt etc. This preliminary study defines a statistical formula to allow estimation of whether a hind paw print on clay or mud belongs to a male or female, using seven biometric parameters. A database of measurements from animals in various zoos could be created, which could then be used in situ to allow the field researcher to know a little more on the otters creating the prints - sex, possible age and so on.