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You are here > Home > Visitor Info > More Information > Visit Devon News > Become an otter spotter this summer!
27th July 2021
Categories: Visitor News
Image: Moor Otters on Facebook
You’ve heard of the Dartmoor Lynx, the wild horses and the Beast that is said to roam Bodmin moor, but now there is a new creature to keep your eyes peeled for this summer on Dartmoor with the return of the Moor Otters!
The Moor Otters trail will continue throughout the summer holidays, giving you plenty of chances to spot all 81 of the locally decorated otters.
The Moor Otters public arts trail was last held in 2017, where local artists designed a series of otter sculptures which were then dotted around the moor. Visitors were invited to head to Dartmoor to find them in order to raise money for Donate for Dartmoor, a fundraising scheme to help look after the animals living on the moor and their habitats. The previous trail raised around £60,000 and it is hoped a similar sum can be reached this year.
The Dartmoor National Park provides an important habitat for British otters which are now a protected species having been reintroduced to the moor fifteen years ago. Since arriving on Dartmoor, the otters have created a number of important habitats and communities and as they can often be seen in the waterways around the region, are the perfect creature to feature in the arts trail.
For the 2021 trail, there is a real emphasis on sustainability with all printed materials being created using recycled paper and visitors being encouraged to be as environmentally friendly as possible while searching for the otters by walking, cycling and using public transport. You can find a list of options including details for buses and trains here. There is even a prize being offered to the most sustainable otter spotter! At the end of the summer, otter spotters, as well as art collectors and individuals can take their favourite otter home by taking part in an auction to raise money for conservation efforts across Dartmoor.
Download your own trail map and find out more about the otters here.
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