Permanent Otter Holts

A huge thank you to Cliff Carson, Environmental Officer from the Middle Level drainage board for his help and supervision building 2 permanent otter holts on the banks of the River Cam.
These holts are constructed of concrete blocks and paving slabs which are then buried and should withstand flooding.

The holts are to Cliffs own design based on experience building many other holts in the area.  (these 2 are numbers 75 and 76!)  This permanent structure fits neatly into the log holts that were made last winter and helping to lessen the visible impact of the artificial holts.

The design allows for an infra-red camera to be incorporated which we hope to be able to link up to our nest-cam system in the very near future.  It is not expected that Otters will breed in the holts, there is much evidence to show that female otters actually give birth away from water bodies to avoid males which could attack the pups.  The holts are important however to provide secure resting areas for the mother and pups once they return and move up water bodies. 

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