Welcome to our page of frequently asked questions. If you have a question then please email us at enquiries@mullotternew.live-website.com
We also carry out scientific research. Our mortality study involves collecting data on otter deaths and sending the bodies for post mortem. This will hopefully provide evidence of the issues impacting otters, but one issue is obvious – on average 13 per year are killed on Mull’s roads. Please phone to report a dead otter.
We are also collecting reports of otter sightings, which over time will hopefully provide information on how the population is faring on Mull.
MOG is a group of volunteers that rely on donations. MOG carries out various fund raising activities during the year such as having a stall at the summer shows. Some events have served as an enjoyable get-together but we are interested in doing more things which involve our members and the public, so tell us your ideas.
Otters need to cross the roads which lie between the feeding area on the shore, and the places where they rest and get fresh water which are further inland. Otters can travel quite far inland to get to their holts and freshwater.
Unfortunately they can get run over when crossing Mull roads.
We wish they would wait until it’s safe to cross the road, or always use the convenient tunnels a.k.a. culverts. But until someone figures out how to teach otters about road saftey we have to think of other methods.
So, we have installed warning signs at the roadside at key hotspots on Mull. We have also installed roadside reflectors which shine the light from car headlights into an otter’s eyes so that it may be deterred from crossing until the car passes.
We also work to keep culverts unblocked in the hope that the otters will use them – because sometimes they do.