Connect with us

News

Spotted an otter lately?

Published

on

Users of Killarney National Park are being asked to keep an eye out for otters – one of the country’s rarest mammals.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service IS launching a new National Otter Survey and has teamed up with researchers in Queen’s University Belfast and the National Biodiversity Data Centre to collect and collate otter records from right across the country.

The new survey will map otters and compare results to the last survey, carried out in 2010-11.

NPWS teams will be looking for characteristic signs of otters at over 900 sites throughout the country, including rivers, lakes and the coast.

Members of the public are asked to keep their eyes peeled for otters and to get involved in this national survey by adding their sightings to the survey results.

Otters are mostly active at night and most typically seen at dawn or dusk. They may be spotted from bridges swimming in rivers or along the rocky seashore.
Otters are brown, about 80 cm (30 inches) long and can be seen gliding along the water surface before diving to show their distinctive long pointed tail which is almost as long again as their body.

Dr Ferdia Marnell, Mammal Specialist with the NPWS, said:

“The otter is one of Ireland’s most elusive animals so getting as many people involved in the survey as possible will be important if we are to get good coverage. Otters are rarely seen, so instead, over the coming months, NPWS staff will be searching for otter tracks and signs.”

Dr Ferdia Marnell, Mammal Specialist with the NPWS, said:

“Otters have large, webbed feet and leave distinctive footprints, but these can be hard to find. Fortunately, otters mark their territory using droppings known as spraints. Otters deposit spraints conspicuously on boulders along riverbanks, logs on lake shores or the rocky high tide line. Spraints can be up to 10 cm or 3 inches long, black through to white but commonly brown, tarry to powdery in consistency and straight or curved making them tricky to identify. Luckily, they commonly contain fish bones and crayfish shells which are the otters favoured diet making them easy to tell apart from the droppings of birds and other mammals.”

The otter and its habitat are protected under the EU Habitats Directive which requires that Ireland reports on the status of the species every six years. The next report is due in 2025.

The otter suffered significant declines across much of continental Europe during the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s but remained widespread in Ireland. The most recent Irish survey (2010-2011) found signs of otter from all counties of Ireland and from sea-shore to mountain streams.

The otter hunts in water, but spends much of its time on land, and as a result is vulnerable to river corridor management such as culverting, dredging and the clearance of bankside vegetation, as well as pollution, pesticides, oil spillages, coastal developments and road traffic.

Advertisement

News

Kerry Politicians at St Patrick’s Day Events in New York and London

Kerry County Council and Kerry politicians participated in St Patrick’s Day engagements in New York and London. Cathaoirleach Cllr Breandán Fitzgerald, accompanied by council directors Angela McAllen and Christy O’Connor, […]

Published

on

Kerry County Council and Kerry politicians participated in St Patrick’s Day engagements in New York and London.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Breandán Fitzgerald, accompanied by council directors Angela McAllen and Christy O’Connor, attended meetings and events in New York, including the St Patrick’s Day Parade. They met with IDA North America and Tourism Ireland-North America representatives and attended a reception hosted by New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “It was a great honour to represent the people of Kerry,” said Fitzgerald.
Leas Cathaoirleach Cllr Fionnán Fitzgerald visited London, joining the Kerry Association and attending the St Patrick’s Day Parade. He was accompanied by Director of Economic & Community Development Niamh O’Sullivan and attended a reception at the Irish Embassy.
Minister for Children, Disability, Equality, and Kerry TD Norma Foley completed a five-day visit to London. She participated in the St Patrick’s Day parade alongside the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and grand marshals Katie Harrington and Katie-George Dunlevy.
“This visit has all been about promoting and nurturing the ties of friendship that exist between Ireland and Britain,” said Foley. She held meetings with British politicians, including Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson, and visited the London Irish Centre and the Irish Cultural Centre.
Foley attended a reception for the late novelist Edna O’Brien and met with members of the Irish and British communities, including political figures and celebrities. She also attended the St Patrick’s Day ball and addressed the Irish Festival at Trafalgar Square

Continue Reading

News

Celtic Kitchen Café tops Irish breakfast rankings

Celtic Kitchen Café on Plunkett Street has been declared the best place in Ireland for a traditional full Irish breakfast. The announcement, made on St Patrick’s Day, highlighted the café’s […]

Published

on

Celtic Kitchen Café on Plunkett Street has been declared the best place in Ireland for a traditional full Irish breakfast.

The announcement, made on St Patrick’s Day, highlighted the café’s exceptional quality and service.
Researchers compiled a list of the top 12 Irish breakfast spots by analysing reviews on Tripadvisor and Google Maps.
The study focused on the percentage of 5-star ratings, resulting in a score out of 100. Celtic Kitchen Café achieved a perfect 100, surpassing all other contenders.
The café is praised for its “excellent food and friendly service,” reflected in its consistent 5-star rating on Tripadvisor. Visitors frequently commend the delicious breakfast offerings and the welcoming atmosphere.

“Scoring a perfect score of 100 in this study, Celtic Kitchen Café is a highly acclaimed café in Killarney, known for its excellent food and friendly service. It boasts a 5-star rating on Tripadvisor, with visitors praising its delicious offerings and welcoming atmosphere” said researcher Sue Dawson.

“There’s no better way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than with a staple of Irish hospitality, the hearty Irish breakfast. When it comes to indulging in a quality breakfast, this dish really is worth travelling for, particularly at this time of year.”

“Whether it’s traditional black and white pudding, freshly-baked soda bread, crispy rashers, or a steaming pot of tea, these top 10 spots truly capture the essence of a great Irish start to the day.”

“As a team we do love an Irish breakfast, so we put our research skills to the test to help diners find the establishments serving the best in the country.”

Continue Reading

Last News

Sport