Weber State, Living Planet Aquarium partner to monitor river otter population
OGDEN, Utah — Zoology students at Weber State University are surveying local waterways to learn more about North American river otters.
Though these otters are native to Utah, they were classified as a rare species in the 1890s due to unregulated trapping and habitat destruction. Now they’re protected from hunting, but their elusive nature makes it difficult to track their numbers.
In an effort to gather data and monitor populations, WSU zoology professor Michele Skopec oversees a team of student resea
rchers who spend every other week setting up cameras and lures along the Weber River.
Their goal is to capture footage of the otters. Sightings provide important information about the location and distribution of the species, which is vital for creating management plans.
“There’s a lot to learn about river otters’ culture and behavior,” said Rossetta Chen, WSU zoology major and student research organizer. “We can’t have conservation laws without knowing more about the population.”
The WSU team shares its findings with Britnee Cheney, an animal keeper at the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium in Draper, Utah. Cheney initiated the otter research when she began surveying the Provo River last year, and she trains WSU students who are interested in contributing data.
Cheney and the Living Planet Aquarium work closely with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to share details that can be used to help manage the species.
Their work also helps determine an ecosystem’s overall health, as otters are an indicator species, meaning their presence signals a thriving ecosystem. Conversely, areas where otters are struggling or absent may be a sign of an unhealthy ecosystem.
“Our goal is to get more information about where otters are located, how they’re doing and how many there are,” Cheney said. “That way, we can figure out what they may need from us in the future.”
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Rachel Badali, news coordinator
801-626-7362, rachelbadali@weber.edu
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- Contact:
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Rachel Badali, news coordinator
801-626-7362, rachelbadali@weber.edu
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