OTTER SPOTTER Citizen Science Project

An OTTER SPOTTER is YOU, a citizen scientist who observes river otters in your neighborhood stream, river, bay/county state or national park/ and elsewhere and submits your information to this ecology project. Once we gather hundreds of such observations we will be able to assess all the data and the status and ecology of Bay Area river otters, of which nothing is currently known. As of January 2013: 300+ observations submitted from across the Bay Area. Keep them coming in!

OTTER SPOTTERS will collect observational data (range, habitats, behavior, reproduction) and scat (for diet analysis) if possible. Photographs and video-recording are strongly encouraged especially close-up footage of facial and head features. Always be on the lookout for and record distinguishing characteristics such as scars, ear-notches and other noticeable features you notice that can help us distinguish between individuals. Now check out the submission form below for the type of data we are seeking, and if you made an observation record it with our project!

OTTER SPOTTER Data Submissions~ if you sighted an otter and/or collected scat, this is where you submit your data.
Interactive Online Map of Otter Sightings in the Bay Area ~ this is a Google Earth map of all observational data submitted to date (continuously being updated)
OTTER SPOTTER Etiquette & Safety in the Field

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