The return of otters to the UK. Otters are carnivorous mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae.The 13 extant otter species are all semiaquatic, aquatic or marine, with diets based on fish and invertebrates.Lutrinae is a branch of the Mustelidae family, which also includes weasels, badgers, mink, and wolverines, among other animals. Shropshire Wildlife Trust's Otter Project uses camera traps to search for otters on the River Severn, and the Canal & River Trust is seeking volunteers to help survey otters on the waterways of Birmingham. Otter, any of 13–14 species of semiaquatic mammals that belong to the weasel family and are noted for their playfulness. endobj Otters are present on waterways throughout the UK and Ireland and so any development that affects a watercourse or is alongside a water course could affect them. They are frequently found in protected harbors, barrier reefs, and kelp forests that offer shelter from wind and waves. The Habitats Directive1 aims to conserve various species of plant and animal which are rare across Europe, and it requires Member States … Druridge Bay - The Pools along Druridge Bay are the best places to spot otters. Simple things you can do to create good habitat for otters Leave the root plates of fallen trees – otters will use cavities behind these to rest Retain mature riverside trees with good root plates to help prevent river bank erosion, maintain shade and create refuges for fish, and to provide natural holt sites. There is evidence that in certain parts of the UK the otter is extending its range and may be increasing locally. Because otters eat mainly fish, you’ll generally find them in areas where there are plenty of this food source. The last release of captive bred otters was in 1999. Otter habitat is not exclusive to dens, and it is also known in quiet undisturbed areas, for them to sleep above ground in what are known as couches, made from reeds or grass. <>>> 3 0 obj The giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) inhabits South America, especially the Amazon river basin, but is becoming increasingly rare due to poaching, habitat loss, and the use of mercury and other toxins in illegal alluvial gold mining. This is the smallest otter species being only about 11 lbs. The otter is one of Britain's largest carnivores and a male otter may weigh over 15kg although females are somewhat lighter. As well as a known high density of otters, sites selected have good quality habitat features necessary for feeding and breeding. 8 October 2013 . 1. Otters can see as well under water as they can above it, allowing them to hunt for fish. Newborns are only about 12cm long but grow quickly and can swim at three months. Otters seek clean rivers, filled with food and overgrown banks where they can raise their cubs. NWT manages five reserves along Druridge Bay: Cresswell Shore and Cresswell Pond, Druridge Pools, East Chevington and Hauxley. Otters are usually found no more than a few hundred meters from water. Many designated sites are on private land: the listing of a site in these pages does not imply any right of public access. %PDF-1.5 Mating occurs at any time of the year and females give birth to 2 – 3 cubs, usually between May and August. Behaviour. Introduction to Otters. Some of them are listed below: Aughton Woods. 1 0 obj This ancient woodland on the River Lune is consider an otter hotspot. Eurasian otters will generally live anywhere that has a source of unpolluted fresh water with a sufficient food supply. The otter (Lutra lutra) was lost from most of England and Wales between the 1950s and the 1970s because of pesticide pollution of waterways. Populations in coastal areas utilise shallow, inshore marine areas for feeding but also require fresh water for bathing and terrestrial areas for resting and breeding holts. The otter is well suited to a life on the water as they have webbed feet, dense fur to keep them warm and can close their ears and nose when underwater. The otter Lutra lutra was once widespread in Europe, but populations declined sharply during the 1960s and 1970s due to pollution, exacerbated by hunting and habitat loss. stream Where Can You Find Otters in the UK? River otter dens are along the water in abandoned burrows or empty hollows. Otters are carnivorous mustelids in the Lutrinae subfamily. But it survived in Scotland’s cleanest bodies of water in the north and west. Cubs are usually born in a holt in a bank, or between rocks or tree roots. Habitat. An otters diet mainly consists of fish, however, it can also include birds, insects, frogs, crustaceans and small mammals. 3: Know your companions. They can thrive in any water habitat, such as ponds, marshes, lakes, rivers, and estuaries—in cold, warm, or even high-elevation areas—as long as the habitat provides adequate food. Excellent and lithe swimmers, the young are in the water by 10 weeks of age. The return of the otter to waterways across the country is one of the UK’s top conservation success stories. Th… Habitat: Otters are voracious fish eaters, with fish making up over 80% of their diet, so they have evolved to live in a variety of habitats where fish are plentiful. From a distance, they can be confused with mink, particularly as they are found in similar habitats, but otters are much larger and when they swim, they do so with just their head showing above the water, while mink swim with their heads and backs exposed. The otter is lithe and slender with short legs, a strong neck, and a long flat tail that helps propel it gracefully through water. 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