Fish otter mapping Enns

Alka-kranz — Engineering Office for Wild Ecology and Nature Conservation Graz The Enns is used throughout the length of the otter. It is not an occasional occurrence of wandering individuals, but an established occurrence that extends far beyond the examined section of the river; this finding is also supported by the repeated presence of family groups (female with young animals). The frequency of detection across the Enns river basin has increased significantly since 1999 (27 % in 1999, 44 % in 2003, 78 % in 2006). From this it can be concluded that the otter stock is growing, even in the present Natura 2000 area. The Natura 2000 area was divided into three water morphologically and ecologically justified subsections and analysed the habitat functions of food, day rest areas, young rearing, permeability and safety. Between palten estuary and groom entrance, the main deficit is the low or not easily accessible food for the otter. Away from the Enns, there is the potential of young breeding areas on the valley floor. The Enns between the Gesäuse entrance and the reservoir is to be judged slightly better than the upper section in terms of the accessibility of food. Its main deficit is the federal road particularly dangerous for Otter between the Gesäuse entrance and the mouth of the Goferbach; another deficit is the lack of available day hideouts due to the intensive practice of water sports. Free-running dogs pose another danger to Otter. The section is unsuitable for throwing constructions. The Enns between the reservoir and Hieflau is a residual water route, which is to be assessed positively in view of the ravine character and the normal amount of water for otters with regard to the accessibility of food and the passability of the section. The main deficit here is a lack of security at a neuralgic point (car accident risk and drowning). In the quiet part of the Enns above the gum, if not directly in the Enns, the food supply could be easily improved in the immediate surroundings, which would also make the area more attractive as a young breeding area. In the water-rich section of the gum, water sports should be limited in time (morning and evening, in the first half of the year more than in the second) and to a small extent also spatially limited. Furthermore, dog leash obligation should be introduced. An otter protection barrier to mBundesstraße is essential in the uppermost part of the building. In the lowest section (residual water line), the specific safety risk should be eliminated by an otter protection fence and an exit aid (concrete ramp) from the canal. In the future, otter occurrences, potential danger areas, but in particular the impact of various projects on the otter should be covered by various monitoring; it would be particularly important to quantify the otter’s food, MWAS would also be relevant with regard to the effect of the otter on trout and grayling stocks.