1

70m

m

Animal tracks and signs found on Mink rafts There are many different types of footprint that you will find on the clay pads of the rafts. This sheet provides you with sketches and images of the most common prints found. But if you find any that are either not in this list or are completely different then either make a sketch or take a picture and send it to the project officer (Details at end) to help with the identification. The quality of the prints on the clay will depend on a number of factors, such as the texture and mixture of the clay, the weather conditions (ie frost may freeze clay) the weight and movement of the animal. NB. The footprint sketches shown below are not to actual size.

Otter One of the most common and the easiest to familiarise with is the otter. The large rounded pads are often deeply pressed in the clay and make for clear distinguishable prints. The size of the otter print makes it easy to differentiate from any of the others. Claw marks don’t show up on the otter prints very often and only four of its five toes are usually shown in the clay Right Fore Foot Right Hind Foot

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Otter droppings or ‘spraint’ are often found on top of the raft and along the bank side on boulders or tufts of grass. They usually consist of fish bones and have a black tar like texture. They can also consist of fur and feathers as well depending on its diet. It has a much sweeter smell than most droppings

Mink The mink print will also be quite common in some areas especially near larger rivers or their tributaries. The mink print is quite clearly shown up but as you will see form the images there will be a variety of different shapes. This is due to lots of different factors. Initial confusion can occur with that of a cat and also a stoat. However a cat’s print is much rounder and there are no claw marks as cats retract their claws whilst walking. A stoat may be confused with the mink when juvenile mink are about in the summer months and possibly a small female mink could be mistaken for a large male stoat. It’s best to measure the print if possible, document it and contact the project officer if in doubt Mink prints all from one animal with a pound coin alongside for size reference. Notice how it often only the toes of the foot that show up on the clay.

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40-4

5 m

m

60-80mm

9mm

Mink prints again from one animal and a mink scat. Some prints appear much larger than others this is due to the animal squatting whilst defecating on the clay. Mink droppings are hard to distinguish and can be confused with otter, stoat and weasel. They have a foul smell and may contain bones feathers or animal fur depending on the diet of the mink. Right Hind Foot Right Fore Foot Mink Dropping

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15m

m

RF

RH

35m

m

Stoat and Weasel These prints are found less often on rafts due to the animals not being so closely associated with water. But because the rafts are tethered to the bank they can climb onto the rafts and leave their prints. To look at, stoats and weasels are very similar, the difference being stoats have a black tip to their tail and being approx a third lager than weasels. Their prints are very similar and also similar to mink, although smaller.

Weasel The weasel print is very small and quite dainty there is no chance of confusing it with any other animal.

Right Hind Foot Right Fore Foot

Stoat The stoat print as mentioned previously can be confused with the mink on some instances. However as for the weasel, the stoat will visit the raft much more infrequently. Stoats are also about 2 thirds larger than weasels. Right Hind Foot Right Fore Foot

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Water Vole, Rat and Field Vole Of these three animals the rat is the most frequent visitor to the raft. This is a good point to remind you that great care must be taken to wash hands thoroughly after all encounters to the rafts even if gloves are worn. This will minimise the risk of catching any water borne diseases. Rat and water vole prints can be extremely similar and hard to distinguish!

Rat Right Fore Foot Right Hind Foot

Water Vole

Water vole prints along the edge of clay pad. The deeper prints are the hind foot prints due to most of the weight bearing over these feet, whilst the fore foot prints are not as clear but still present.

Right Fore Foot Right Hind Foot

Droppings

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-45m

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26

-34m

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35

-45m

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Droppings

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Water vole droppings on edge of clay pad on raft. This has pile of droppings is also called a latrine and which are used to mark territories. Also another sign of water vole activity is the clippings of grass which they eat, a sign which other small rodents will not leave.

Field vole Field vole signs are quite often found on the clay but because of the size and weight of the animal some harder mixes of clay will not show up their footprints very well. Their droppings are much smaller than that of the water vole but are very similar in shape. Field voles are also considerably smaller than water voles. Right Fore Foot Right Hind Foot

Droppings With any queries contact Sarah Atkinson (North East Project Officer) email; s.a.atkinson@abdn.ac.uk or phone; 07899 060 569

17-1

8mm