Estimating Otter Numbers Using Spraints: Is It Possible?

Table 3

Spraint numbers by month on Ardnish.

Month	Spraint numbers	Otter numbers
October 2011	75	3
November 2011	74	3
December 2011	57	3
January 2012	55	3
February 2012	24	3
March 2012	14	2
April 2012	33	3
May 2012	87	3
June 2012	32	3
July 2012	13	3
August 2012	20	2
September 2012	37	1

No correlation was found to exist between spraint numbers and otter activity (𝑟=0.36, 𝑛=12, and 𝑃<0.05). Using the Pearson Product Correlation Coefficient only 12.9% of spraint numbers could explain changes in otter numbers.