Project Supervisor
Dr. Philip Gipson

Funding
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

Cooperators
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

Objectives
Estimate occupancy and detection probabilities of river otters in the eastern third of Kansas.

Compare fur-harvester questionnaires regarding river otter occurrence with estimates achieved through sign surveys.

Examine the occurrence of river otters and beaver to determine the feasibility of multi-species occupancy modeling and to evaluate interspecies relationships.

Location
Eastern Kansas

Completion
December 2009

Progress and Results
Fifty to 100 sites are being surveyed from randomly selected watersheds. Each site consists of a 3600-meter survey of a stream, river, or reservoir shoreline documenting otter and beaver sign as well as vegetation and shore characteristics. These relatively long survey segments will allow for spatial replication to account for false-absences. 

A questionnaire is being developed to mail to fur harvesters in order to obtain information on specific locations of river otter sightings during the past three years. The data from these questionnaires will be compared to both the sign surveys and otter location data collected in the 2004-2005 Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Furbearer Harvest Survey to determine if detectable changes in otter distribution occurred.

A final report will be prepared for Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to better understand and manage the state’s river otter population.

Products
Blecha, K.A., P.S. Gipson, and M. Peek. 2007. Occupancy Modeling of River Otter (Lontra canadensis) in Eastern Kansas. Midwest Furbearer Workshop. Lincoln, Nebraska. 11 Sept 2007.

Shardlow, M., P. S. Gipson, K. A. Blecha, and M. Peek.  2008.  River otter distribution and population status in eastern Kansas.  Information Brochure, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.