Study of waterways discovers 200 indicators of otter activity

Study of waterways discovers 200 indicators of otter activity

By Mary Dennehy

A NEW study on city waterways discovered nearly 200 indicators of otter activity, with 24 per cent of the signs recorded found in the Dodder.

While otters have long been observed in Dublin, a new study commissioned by Dublin City Council under the Dublin City Biodiversity Action Plan (2015 – 2020) provides key information on how this elusive mammal uses the city’s waterways.

DCC Otter Ross Macklin surveying Camac compressor

Ross Macklin from Triturus Environmental Ltd, authors of the survey for Dublin City Council, examining otter prey remains on a crack willow trunk on the upper survey reaches of the River Camac in South Dublin

Carried out by Triturus Environmental Ltd over the past two years, the study area included 14 watercourses including the Dodder, the Camac, Liffey, Poddle and Owendoher.

A number of streams were also incuded in the study, including the Whitechurch stream in Rathfarnham.

According to a statement by the city council, otters are shy animals that mainly come out at night and can be difficult to find.

However, their presence can be revealed by a range of signs including resting areas, burrows and worn areas where otters enter the water.

“The ecologists discovered 196 signs of otter, including 25 holts [burrows]”, the city council said.

“The most heavily marked river by otter included the Dodder and Tolka, while some of the smaller, more heavily modified rivers such as the Naniken (St Anne’s Park) had no otter signs recorded.”

DCC Otter picture compressor

An otter in the Dodder

Rivers and streams that flow through South Dublin County were among the top  waterways for otter activity – with the Dodder, Tolka (Dublin city’s northside), Owendoher, Liffey and Whitechurch stream accounting for 73 per cent of otter signs discovered in the study.

The Dodder, which accounts for 24 per cent of activity, is one of Dublin’s major watercourses.

The 29km river rises at Kippure Mountain in the Wicklow Mountains and flows through a number of local comunities including Tallaght, Firhouse, Templeogue, Terenure and Rathfarnham.

The Owendoher is a tributary of the Dodder, and joins the river opposite Bushy Park near Rathfarnham, with the Whitechurch Stream being the primary tributary of the Owendoher.

The Whitechurch stream flows through two golf clubs, Edmonstown and the Grange, before making its way through St Enda’s Park in Rathfarnham.

The Liffey was surveyed between the M50 at Waterstown Park (Palmerstown), through Chapelizod, Islandbridge and on as far as the East Link Toll Bridge at Ringsend.

According to the study other local rivers, such as the Camac, which flows through Saggart and Clondalkin and on into Inchicore, and the Poddle appeared to support far fewer otters.

According to the findings of the Dublin Otter Survey, the rivers of Dublin “remain highly important passageways for wildlife and also important breeding areas for otter, given they are some of the last remaining secluded habitats in cities that are becoming increasingly fragmented.”

The study concluded that conservation efforts “will ensure that one of the most charistmatic species representing urban biodiversity – the otter – can continue to survive in densely populated areas such as Dublin.”

Commenting on the results of the new study, Maryann Harris, Senior Executive Parks and Landscape Officer with Dublin City Council, said: “the number of holts and extent of otter activity was a surprise to us particularly in highly urbanised areas.

“It highlights the need to conserve undisturbed sections of rivers for otters to breed and re-inforces Dublin City Council’s ambition for the re-naturalisation of river corridors.

“Otter are sensitive to encroachment by dvelopment and this study will better inform the management and conservation requirements for otter in the city.”

To view the survey visit Dublin Otter Survey 

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