Use of snow-tracking methods to estimate the abundance of otter (Lutra lutra) in Finland with evaluation of one-visit census for monitoring purposes

Special one-visit censuses (OVC) for monitoring and estimating of abundances of otters based on snow tracks was carried out in 1995—1998. The monitoring network included 16 areas, in total 37 000 km2. The number of investigated sites was 1213—1589 per year. Ages, sizes and directions of otter tracks...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annales zoologici fennici 2007, Vol.44 (3), p.179-188
Main Authors: Sulkava, Risto T., Liukko, Ulla-Maija
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Censuses
Estimation methods
Freshwater
Habitat conservation
Lutra lutra
Mink
Otters
Population estimates
Population size
Snow
Wildlife population studies
Wildlife studies
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Summary:Special one-visit censuses (OVC) for monitoring and estimating of abundances of otters based on snow tracks was carried out in 1995—1998. The monitoring network included 16 areas, in total 37 000 km2. The number of investigated sites was 1213—1589 per year. Ages, sizes and directions of otter tracks were examined to estimate how many otters had visited each site, and the entire study areas. We found otter tracks in every study area during all winters. Otters were most abundant in the central part of the country, and the number of all otters in Finland was estimated at 2000—2550 individuals. This study showed that OVC-snow tracking method works well, and that it could be a useful tool for monitoring otter populations on the national scale in Finland.
ISSN:0003-455X
1797-2450