Otter Path Hankensbüttel

The Otter Path Hankensbüttel is about three kilometers long and starts at the Otter Center. It connects the nature experience center with the village of Hankensbüttel and includes a hike through the forest area "Hagen" as well as the nature experience bridge. In total, ten nature experience stations invite you to explore the habitat of the lake. For example, you can experience how a fish otter feels in its hiding place in an oversized reed bed. Or the bridge guests can enter the "stork's nest", three meters above the water surface, and observe with a telescope the behavior of the white storks breeding within sight. Small animals can be fished for on an observation platform. Two rotating discs with small drawings of the animals reveal which organism it is. Wobble zones, a water feel area, and animal viewing spots complete the extraordinary offer. The bridge is accessible all year round and designated as a public path. In total, four otter paths invite you to experience the landscape from the perspective of a fish otter. The fish otter is a very rare and secretive animal. It reacts very sensitively to changes in its habitat. In other words, if streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes are in a good ecological condition, they will sooner or later be populated by the fish otter as a habitat. Due to extensive nature conservation measures, the fish otter has returned to the lowland of the Ise, a small river in the district of Gifhorn. Even near the Otter Center in Hankensbüttel, wild fish otters and their traces have been seen. The otter paths lead to these areas to sharpen the view of the fish otter's habitats. In total, 24 stations equipped with steel otters invite you to learn directly on-site about the life of the water marten and nature conservation. More information about the otter paths and an accompanying brochure can be obtained from the Otter Center.