Present status of the otter in the Rhone catchment and in the Ardeche department [France]
1996
Michelot, J.L. | Bendele, R. (Centre Ornithologique Rhone-Alpes, Lyon (France))
Since 1982 the status of the otter in the southeastern part of France is monitored by the CORA (Centre Ornithologique Rhone-Alpes). In 1991-1992, a new survey of the river Rhone catchment was undertaken, using three different methods: literature analysis, targeted inquiry and systematic field survey. As pointed out in 1982, the otter is still present, though uncommon, in the area : only 81 positive data were collected, namely along the rivers Drome and Isere. Some signs of presence were also recorded in the Camargue and in the department of the Hautes Alpes. In the Massif central, scattered signs were found in the Ardeche basin and more regular ones were recorded on a tributary of the river Ceze, probably due to a recent recolonization. In the Loire and Allier basins, each river of the Ardeche department was visited twice. The field surveys have shown that the otter is quite widespread (36 signs on 8 out of 13 rivers). In that region, however, hydroelectric dams limit severely the upstream movements of the otters, the animals being totally unable to cross these obstacles.
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