In 2024, the Eurasian otter was chosen as Estonia's animal of the year. This is an aquatic predator that feeds on fish, waterfowl, and crayfish. The otter performs most of its activities at night, making it difficult to spot.
Isadora Rahumeel, a student at Kuressaare Hariduse Kool, studied the distribution of otters on Saaremaa using trail camera images. She discovered that otters live more widely on Saaremaa's rivers and streams than previously thought. Otters prefer long rivers, forested banks, and minimal human activity.
The Eurasian otter belongs to the mustelid family. Its body is long and streamlined, with short legs and a thick tail. The otter lives near water bodies and marks its territory with droppings. It uses burrows in riverbanks for resting and nesting.
The otter is widely distributed across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. However, it is endangered in many regions. Otters die in traffic and lose habitats due to road construction. Additionally, otters have been considered harmful to fish stocks, although they primarily eat smaller fish and other animals.
In Estonia, the otter population has fluctuated over time. In the 1970s, there were only about 300 otters, but their numbers have since rebounded due to favorable years. Currently, there are several thousand otters in Estonia.
The otter reached Saaremaa only in 1998. Isadora Rahumeel used trail cameras to study where and how otters live on Saaremaa. She found that otters prefer long rivers with forested banks. Short rivers that dry up in summer are unsuitable for otters.
Isadora determined that otters are present in 24 different locations on Saaremaa. Her work won an award in a student research competition.