The Otter Project runs a long term environmental surveillance scheme, using otters found dead to investigate contaminants, disease, and population biology across the UK. The otter project records observations, measurements and biological specimens that can be of great benefit to ecological research. Samples collected during a post mortem include adrenals, bone, brain, fur, heart, kidney, liver, muscle, spleen, stomach contents, ectoparasites, vibrissae, baculum, lung, kidney stones, gall bladder, testes, scent, skull, blood, faeces, thymus, thyroid, ear, tongue, blood. All tissues are frozen at -20°C. Bones, stomach contents, baculum and skulls are dried and some muscles are preserved.
