Step 4: Collect fecal samples.
Essential to the project is a database of known-source E. coli ribotypes that can be compared to unknown E. coli from streams and estuaries. We use two databases: a small, local database of about ten ribotypes that project staff and volunteers collected during the water sampling period, and a more comprehensive regional database (Maine and New Hampshire) that Jackson Estuarine Lab has collected in recent years.

Fred collects otter scat at site M2 on Merriland R.

The ten local fecal samples ideally are animals that one might expect to significantly contribute to bacterial water contamination (animals that live close to the water or are particularly abundant). Finding wildlife fecal samples of certain animals is challenging (beaver, for example), and project staff were not able to include them even though they were known to inhabit contaminated tributaries to the estuary. The Webhannet watershed local database consisted of: human (direct sample, septic system and sewage influent), dog, deer, coyote, grey fox, red fox, raccoon and grouse. See table of local and regional databases here.

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