Otter (Lutra lutra) population in northernmost Finland

Abstract

The otter population in northernmost Finland (total study area 95 000 km2 ) was studied by snow-tracking in 2004-2008. Data on otter tracks were mainly collected in winter using snowmobiles. A more intensive one-visit census method was used in one area. A total of 792 tracks of otters were found all over Finnish Lapland. Otters were more common in the southern than in the northernmost, alpine, part of the study area. In the strict one-visit census area 15 otters were found, which corresponds to approximately 30 otters living in the area. Extrapolation of these results suggests that there are about 450-500 otters in Finnish Lapland.