Volume 3 Pages 1 - 51 (March 1988)

Citation: van Moll, G.C.M.  (1988) Causes of Otter Mortality in the Netherlands between 1963 end 1987 IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 3: 9

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Causes of Otter Mortality in the Netherlands between 1963 end 1987

G.C.M. van Moll

During 1986-87 the society Das & Boom collected data on the cause of death of 93 otters found in The Netherlands between 1971 and 1987. The main cause of mortality was traffic (40%) followed by drowning in fyke nets (28%). Throughout the period dead otters were recorded in 6 provinces. However, during the last 10 years (since 1978), dead otters were found in only 2 provinces, 1 in the province of North-Holland and 15 in Friesland. Friesland would seem now to hold the last remnants of a species once found nationwide. The estimate for otter numbers used to be 150-300 but the new estimate is, at a maximum, only about 20. The data are summarized in the tables below.

It is concluded that, in the short term, only 2 provinces offer the possibility of otter rehabilitation. In this respect our report analyses the management requirements necessary in various areas of Friesland and in the adjacent province of Overijssel. Measures are also proposed for various (state) nature reserves. The present study was supported financially by the State Nature Conservancy . For further information, our report "De otter, Lutra lutra L. in Nederland", Vereniging Das & Boom/Staatbosbeheer can ordered from Vereniging Das & Boom, Rijksstraatweg 174, 6573 DG Beek-Ubbergen , The Netherlands.

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