Estimating Otter Numbers Using Spraints: Is It Possible?

Table 1

Spraint numbers and otter numbers by month at Loch na Dal.

Month	Spraint numbers	Otter numbers
October 2011	24	2
November 2011	22	3
December 2011	52	2
January 2012	72	2
February 2012	52	2
March 2012	38	2
April 2012	27	3
May 2012	34	1
June 2012	16	1
July 2012	18	1
August 2012	15	1
September 2012	15	2

No correlation was found to exist between spraint numbers and otter numbers during the 12-month survey (𝑟=0.21, 𝑛=12, and 𝑃<0.05). Using the Pearson Product Correlation Coefficient only 4.39% of spraint numbers could explain changes in otter numbers.