Seabird population declines are driven by multiple interacting pressures, yet the role of native predators in seabird colonies remains poorly understood. This study used camera traps to quantify year-round activity of Eurasian otters Lutra lutra in Atlantic puffin Fratercula arctica colonies on three Norwegian islands. Across the study period, 1590 independent otter detections were recorded. Otter detection frequency varied significantly by island, puffin breeding stage, and colony area. Contrary to predictions, activity did not peak during incubation or chick-rearing, when eggs and chicks were expected to be most available to predators. Instead, detections were generally highest during the pre-laying period when adult seabirds had returned to colonies. Sixteen independent otter predation events were recorded, mostly involving adult Atlantic puffins or other adult auks. Other predators, including white-tailed eagles Haliaeetus albicilla, corvids, gulls (Larus spp.), stoats Mustela erminea, and domestic cats Felis catus were opportunistically recorded. Our study provides a rare year-round perspective on native predator activity in seabird colonies and our results suggest that early-season adult attendance may represent an overlooked window of vulnerability for long-lived seabirds, whose population dynamics are especially sensitive to adult mortality.
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