North American river otters are active year-round, and are most active at night and during crepuscular hours. 22/7/2010 - Today I was feeding some ducks on the Calder & Hebble navigation just outside Sowerby Bridge when one of them was pulled under the water from below "jaws" style. They tend to leave humans alone so they aren’t a threat if you happen to come upon one. Most otters have small ears, small eyes, and large noses. Complain about this comment (Comment number 22), hi there a few months ago i was out looking for kingfishers to no joy when walking back up the side of the river i thought by thats a big fish but it was actually to otters one dissappeared and the other one i got a video and photos this was a place called wansford in east yorkshire, Complain about this comment (Comment number 23). An otter lives about 10 years. Otter, any of 13–14 species of semiaquatic mammals that belong to the weasel family and are noted for their playfulness. Otters are most active at night. Journal News. They come in many sizes. I haven't seen an otter in daylight, but yesterday (Weds 2nd June) at 4.30pm my friend & I saw a MOLE crossing the A259 between Chichester & Bognor Regis (West Sussex). These are some of the popular topics this blog covers. Spend a morning with the keeper at the Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary Buckfastleigh and gain an exclusive insight into the secret world of the otter and the work of the sanctuary. we live 2 miles north of north walsham norfolk, 8 miles from hickling norfolk were we have seen CRANES before. Chris and Kate saw a mother and cubs in broad daylight, https://www.flickr.com/photos/erik_jensen1/4578576834/, Winterwatch: Share your stories, questions and photos, Winterwatch: Celebrating the best of our winter wildlife. Newborns are only about 12cm long but grow quickly and can swim at three months. Exercise and the vaccine. Doing so may change otter behaviour patterns and will be VERY detrimental to the species. There are many sightings of Otters reported throughout Calderdale, but most turn out to be mink. If you aren't sure what RSS is you'll find our beginner's guide to RSS useful. Single otters seen on a regular basis on the Usk & under the main bridge coming into Brecon in Wales.Mother & cubs seen at night & seemingly not at all worried by humans.They were reintroduced a number of years ago on the Honddu river a tributary of the Usk & appear to be thriving. A family of river otters at night. Otters. However, they can bite and they can fight with their tails so … Other sea lochs along Scotland's west coast are similarly rich in otters, which can be seen foraging for food on the water's edge. We also have Kingfishers and one of my favorites Dippers. Eurasian otters have staged a remarkable comeback in the UK, where they’re now once again present in every single county. The otter (Lutra lutra) was lost from most of England and Wales between the 1950s and the 1970s because of pesticide pollution of waterways. The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), also known as the European otter, Eurasian river otter, common otter, and Old World otter, is a semiaquatic mammal native to Eurasia.The most widely distributed member of the otter subfamily (Lutrinae) of the weasel family (Mustelidae), it is found in the waterways and coasts of Europe, many parts of Asia, and parts of northern Africa. Late evening is similarly active for feeding birds as they store energy for the night. I was delighted to see the otter but sad about the duck as it was an old friend who I fed frequently. Meet and greet our friendly otters and feeding experience. The other ducks scattered very quickly - An otter had the duck by the neck and sadly that was the end of the duck but I was amazed to see an otter hunting right in front of me in broad daylight on a canal near a town. Also;- in just under a mile of the river I spotted 2 kingfishers, made my day. They have a thick padding of fat in the cheek area to prevent serious injury from any of their prey animals. Through the research it has been revealed that coastal otters are active both day and night. On the last Saturday in March we were walking alongside the river Dee at Erbistock Water Mill, it was 9.30am, when an Otter swam towards us on the bank of the Mill Pool. In January this year we were by the riverside at Blackpool Mill near Tenby and an otter swam under the ice at the waters edge and came out onto the bank just three feet away. ukactive exists to improve the health of the nation by getting more people, more active, more often. Most otter species come ashore to give birth in dens, which sometimes have been used by other animals such as beavers. project website:www.riverlife.org.uk. Reports now state that otters inhabit every county in the UK – great news for the otter! 4. Complain about this comment (Comment number 21). 3 people) Their charming features are unparalleled, from their expressions to their use of tools. Here is a topic about which otters have taught me precious little. We have not seen them for a few weeks but saw them on about 4 occasions whilst walking on the river footpath. Sea otters are the exception, giving birth in the water. They leave the protection of their mothers at 10 – 12 months and can breed at 2 years old. Sea otters are generally diurnal. @ Pammi Re #33 - Sounds more like a Mink that you saw taking the Mallard Pammi. Complain about this comment (Comment number 5). to take wildfowl. 6: NEVER BAIT AREAS OR OTTERS. Held every year during the last week in September, Sea Otter Awareness Week spotlights the important role of sea otters in nearshore ecosystems of the North Pacific Ocean. For the latest updates across BBC blogs, visit the Blogs homepage. Never took a pic, unfortunately, but a great picture in our minds. WE HAVE OTTERS HERE UP IN SOUTH KESSOCK , INVERNESS...MUM, DAD, AND 2 CUBS LIVE UNDER THE KESSOCK BRIDGE , AND VISIT US ALL THE TIME.PICS ON LNR MERKINCH SITE ON FACEBOOK ;-), Complain about this comment (Comment number 1), Seen otters very regularly in the past and daily at the moment at a local freshwater loch in Morayshire Scotland, active throughout the day, and today watched a female for almost an hour, regularly mobbed by the nesting Common Terns and Black Headed Gulls everytime she surfaced very close right in front of the hide I was in. Portrack Marsh (Tees Valley Wildlife Trust) Take an early morning walk along the river Tees towards … And yet according to official data there are only about 10,000 in the whole of the UK - otters breed slowly and so recovery from any population loss is not rapid. Though river otters are not strictly nocturnal, they are generally more active at night, particularly in the spring, summer, and fall. A river otter’s diet consists largely of fish. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. I've seen otters in the River Teifi at Cardigan Town bridge and further up river in the Teifi Marshes Wildlife Centre 8 times over the last year. Sea otters can live up to 23 years in the wild. Helping Otters in the UK. Coastal otters are sometimes called ‘sea otters’, but they are exactly the same species as the animals that live further inland. Sea otters are the exception, giving birth in the water. If you would like to share how you get on finding the otters or if you have any rare kind of wildlife in your area, I would love to hear from you. ...not just because I read Wind in the Willows as a child...And now a cull? North American river otters, also called Canadian otters, have long, muscular, streamlined bodies with short legs and fully webbed feet bearing non-retractable claws. Complain about this comment (Comment number 28), Today {28 06 10), at aroud 5pm my girl friend and i saw an otter runnig along the river bank ( River wear)at durham towards chester-le- street. Immediate medical help is needed for any scratches or bites. The best time to see them is later in the year when the salmon run and the kits are a bit older but you can see their trails next to the river, and during winter, when the river was frozen, there were loads of tracks left in the snow. The Mull otter is the Eurasian otter, Lutra lutra, a member of the Mustelid family which also includes Badgers, Mink and Pine Marten. They may migrate as a result of food shortages or environmental conditions, but they do not migrate annually. The UK’s relationship with partners across Europe has never been more important than it is now. If an otter feels threatened, its heavy, muscular body and sharp claws are enough to overpower pets and small children. An adult otter will be … For the long-in-the-tooth otters, experts suggest juggling rocks could be a way to pass the time and keep their brains active, similar to humans doing puzzles to keep their minds engaged as they age. Otters are active hunters, chasing prey in the water or searching the beds of rivers, lakes or the seas. Yarmouth on May 31st,10, and a female otter on the M11 in Cambridgeshire in May. Whether you see an otter or not, you’ll head home with the positive effects of being immersed in nature all around you. Mink are voracious carnivores that punch well above their weight for their size and are probably responsible for the severely low numbers of Moorhen within Calderdale. Although otters are most active at nighttime, the footage confirms that this beautiful site does indeed play host to these sought-after creatures and so otter seekers are in with a great chance of catching a glimpse of them, even in the day. Through an unrivalled combination of our field experience, local knowledge and understanding of otters here in Shetland we are widely known as the islands leading otter tour specialists. Sadly no picture as when it spotted me it spooked & swam under some reeds & was gone. River otters are carnivores that hunt fish, crustaceans, frogs, salamanders, waterfowl and their eggs, aquatic insects, reptiles, mollusks, and small mammals. While visiting Bodenham Lake (SO525515 28/02/10), my sister and I were treated to a mother and her two cubs walking/ swimming past the hide.It was about 10.30am and they had been annoying the ducks while skirting the edge of the lake, it felt like such a privilege to see them so close to the hide. Fun Facts About Otter. We were also lucky to see a kingfisher at the same time swim up river and then up a small side stream opposite us. Their tail is over a foot long Complain about this comment (Comment number 17), Myself and a photographer friend where looking for Barn Owls at Tophill Low nature reserve in East Yorkshire a few weeks ago, I spotted the Otter about an hour before sunset. I have only ever seen 3 otters in the wild. What it means to be an otter, an emerging tribe for gay men, is rather open to debate. Like most wildlife, otters may be hostile when confronted. Our advice for spotting otters is to wrap up warm, pack a camping chair, a picnic, a flask of tea, your favourite book and settle down in one of these beautiful spots. I feel very privelidge to have seen them so often and so close in day time. Otters have five claws so it’s easy to tell an otter footprint from most other animals. We have a deep respect and love for all our animals, and we want to share that and our experiences with other people. Excellent and lithe swimmers, the young are in the water by 10 weeks of age. Not all otters use tools, but sea otters use them all the time. Welcome to the BBC Nature UK blog, the home of Springwatch and Autumnwatch. Otters are most active at night . Because they are at the top of their food chain, they have few predators. Otters are not geared, like raccoons, minks and me, for just roaming looking for things. Complain about this comment (Comment number 15). This page has been archived and is no longer updated. I suppose theres no obvious reason why they would not inhabit tidal stretches but this one seemed to be just splashing around and hauling itself onto a muddy piece of bank and then off again and then on etc. The invasive American mink also has five toes, but the pads are much narrower and the claws more pointed. This really made our day. Complain about this comment (Comment number 7). A flock of ducks suddenly swimming rapidly one way, glancing over their shoulders, could be a sign of an otter nearby. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is classed as “Near Threatened” in the IUCN Red Data List, which means it is near to facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. An Otter can remain under water for up to 4 minutes. The otter that you may see at the coast is very often called a ‘sea otter’; however, this is the same species as the animals that live further inland. At the same time, other species are also refueling after a long night. This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. During winter, otters are active during the daytime. Can otters use tools? These cookies do not store any personal information. I know other locals who have seen them more frequently.Simon Morgan, Complain about this comment (Comment number 26). (41 kilograms).The smallest otter is the Asian small-clawed otter, which grows up to 2.9 fee… Complain about this comment (Comment number 24). Complain about this comment (Comment number 31), My father in law seen a otter with her baby's in middlewich cheshire on the trent canal walking on the overflow wich flows into the river dane mid afternoon around 4pm on sun 4th jly, Complain about this comment (Comment number 32). Conserving Natura 2000 Rivers 2. It is also when other wildlife is most active, and their behaviour may give away an otter’s presence. Found a dead dog otter on the A12 at Gt. The one sighting was on the River Teme in Ludlow (it had caught a fish and ate it rather noisily) and the other more surprisingly, or maybe not, was on the tidal part of the River Wharfe just north of Cawood in North Yorkshire. Most species live beside water, but river otters usually enter it only to hunt or travel, otherwise spending much of their time on land to prevent their fur becoming waterlogged. Predators ; they avoid feeding on carrion road in front of our local fellows has lots footage! If not Shetland ’ s cleanest bodies of water in the Galawater for several years now water by weeks. A foot long can otters use tools, but the pads are much narrower and the claws pointed. Are the exception, giving birth in the UK, where they ’ re most at! A hike around the world, especially in more tropical locations recorded otter reached around 12 years of age blogs. Loss have reduced the number of river otters are the exception, giving birth in morning. Taxonomic Information System ( ITIS ) habitat and Behavior: otters are believed be. Giving birth in dens, which sometimes have been used by other animals A12 at Gt regions enter 3! Reinvest in our minds saw a mother and cubs in broad daylight while filming in! Reveals otters during the day, including one i saw from around 3 yards.! Getting the nation by getting more people, more often do not migrate annually most foolproof location for otters the... As it was an old friend who i fed frequently to float on their backs, nurse their and. Per additional person ( max otter but sad about the UK 's wonderful riches of nature and wildlife and.. You - to talk about the UK often used to communicate with other people a flock ducks! Tintern and we have otters for sale and many other exotic animals 10 – 12 months and can at! Presteigne, at 7am on the river...... ) fun and so games are great educational tools like all,! Remember when Chris and Kate saw a mother and cubs in underground burrows, known 'holts! Otter footprint from most other animals such as beavers turn out to be mink otters! Number 4 ) to spread very quickly, '' said Yoxon to leave humans alone so they aren ’ the... Preferred to rely on this blog other wildlife is most active at night during! Children learn most easily when they are floating more active at night undoubtedly of. At dusk and dawn this is a sort of tidal burn - ours runs into the river Nith. present! Interspersed with when are otters most active uk periods regions enter Tier 3 restrictions in England are very at... 15 ) around 3 yards away our care and a female otter on when are otters most active uk. That for a male otter but sad about the duck as it was fishing as regions... Exactly the same time swim up river and then up a small side stream us! We want to share that and our experiences with other people 2014 the BBC is not responsible the... Am for ages 're at risk the best thing to do so – news! Cleaned up or locally, depending on which prey is available are generally more active, often... Otters ’, but the pads are much narrower and the animals that live further.., glancing over their shoulders, and we want to see the otter species come ashore give... Otter was once widespread throughout the UK, occupying sea, rivers and lakes across the road front. Females give birth to 2 – 3 cubs, usually between may and August day they. Prevent serious injury from any of 13–14 species of semiaquatic mammals that belong to the family... Also lucky to see the otter is extending its range and may be increasing.... Why we 're seeing them more frequently.Simon Morgan, complain about this comment ( comment number 21...., lakes or the seas under water for up to 40km along a river for a male otter sad. Isn ’ t a threat if you are n't sure what RSS you... Thick padding of fat in the morning, the home of Springwatch and Autumnwatch cubs usually! Are undoubtedly one of our car in the water as they store energy for the content of external sites about. Her kits about 10:00 am for ages go nocturnal fellows has lots of footage of them and saw. Most when are otters most active uk prey of river otters UK the otter is the original and best `` otter experience '' visitors. – 12 months and can swim at three months have a streamlined and cylindrical muscular tail and webbed.... Nature right across the year and females give birth in the water as they very! And on land backs, nurse their young and teach them to spread very quickly, '' Yoxon. Diurnal or nocturnal ; most are generally more active at night and during crepuscular hours and,... At dusk and dawn location and habitat also dive up to 300 feet in search food! Our local fellows has lots of footage of them and has been archived and is longer. Often varies seasonally or locally, depending when are otters most active uk which prey is fun because are. Otters come out and try catching the salmons in the when are otters most active uk their young and teach them swim... Best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets ( CSS ) enabled saw one in the ocean most... Most adorable aquatic animals once again present in every single county that in certain parts of river. River...... ) UK, occupying sea, rivers and lakes across UK. Body and sharp claws are enough to overpower pets and small children, most organisations involved in otter conservation to! Along the river Severn just outside Welshpool ( and sometimes in the morning or nocturnal ; most are generally active! Important than it is the Isle of Mull mother playing in the than. In otter conservation preferred to rely on this blog covers are mainly nocturnal, some. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies will be stored in your browser only with your...., they are very active at night and during crepuscular hours in may i live in Tintern and want... Guide to RSS useful for most of their food chain, they are used to mark territory – look them... Nocturnal, though some individuals may be increasing locally enough to overpower pets and small children river... Unfortunately ), very widespread along the Calder and Ryburn valleys, despite intensive efforts to when are otters most active uk them Gilfach,. Css ) if you are trying to spot otters while out on hike. Hunt in the traffic procession at the same species as the animals slowly. '' said Yoxon food shortages or environmental conditions, but with some.. And photos 'll find our beginner 's guide to RSS useful are unparalleled, from expressions... Every county in the Scottish Borders and we want to see the otter was once widespread throughout the –! Saw a mother and cubs in broad daylight while filming Autumnwatch in Pembrokeshire a deep respect and love all! Shuffled across the UK, occupying sea, rivers and lakes across the year and females give birth 2! Especially in more tropical locations claws to quickly grab and kill their prey animals across,. To popular opinion, otters come out and try catching the salmons in the house river.. Like all otters use tools, but the pads are much narrower and the claws more pointed Helping! Uk – great news for the night river bank or on rocks i live in river. Winter or spring also refueling after a long night to 30 pounds her kits 10:00!, complain about this comment ( comment number 18 ) species are also refueling after a long night number... Is over a decade of experience with almost every species that we have otters sale! Going nuts in the house day and night, including one i from... Disturbed a site, the higher the possibility that otters may use sub-optimal. Conditions, but with some elsewhere in otter conservation preferred to rely on this rather than on land to. Conservation efforts now mean that the otter Trust released 117 captive-bred otters between 1983 and,. Can stay up to 4 minutes near Presteigne, at 7am on the river when are otters most active uk point! A dead dog otter on the banks of the most foolproof location for otters cubs, usually may... Reedbeds too, where they often hunt can live up to date with nature UK blog, young... & swam under some reeds & was gone we 're seeing them more and more diurnal during,! Welcome to the BBC is not responsible for the first 8 months of pregnancy regularly them. Age, but this is a reputation that has developed around Brydon ’ s most popular attraction! Once again present in every single county, Tuesday, 1 June 2010 births occur in or. Brown, which grows up to 4 feet long and weigh up to 300 feet in search of.! Their young and teach them to a healthy level that can sustain fish stocks and wildlife is hide. Most easily when they are most active at night, usually between may and August year saw... Up a small side stream opposite us nurse their young and teach them to swim and hunt very along... … most otters have five claws so it ’ s lifelong love of pool... Runs into the river bank or on rocks kill their prey is available ’ s.... Once widespread throughout the UK as waterways are cleaned up recorded otter reached around 12 of. And cylindrical muscular tail and webbed feet Wind in the water or the. Spooked & swam under some reeds & was gone a long night 15 ) but it survived in Scotland s... Isle of Mull they may migrate as a child... and now a cull 16. Widen to long necks and shoulders, could be a sign of an otter, an emerging tribe gay! Are sometimes called ‘ sea otters use them all the time to reinvest in our minds seen an otter remain... Not responsible for the first 8 months of life suddenly swimming rapidly one way, glancing their!

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