#5 Routes to the River Tone - Bridge Traditional Cache

Taunton’s waterways are great for wildlife and here the bridge has been designed with a special otter shelf so otters can avoid the road even when the water is in flood. You will be able to see some dark staining on the stones. This is most likely otter spraint (poo) or anal jelly and has a lovely jasmine tea smell - you may want to take my word for this. Foxes also use this ledge and their faeces (poo) is hideous smelling – you are warned. Currently the otter spraint is being collected for use in a scientific survey where it is DNA tested to see how many different otters are using this territory and the otter's range. It used to be said there was one otter per parish which does match quite well with the dog otter's approx. 12 mile range. An otter's foot print looks like that of a dog but it is webbed, more like a hand print and isn’t symmetrical.

Please let us know in your log if you see any wildlife near this cache. For more information about the Somerset Wildlife Trust, please visit us here.

Please let us know any wildlife you have seen here.

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This cache is placed with the kind permission of Taunton Deane Borough Council