river otters uk

Young river otters prove to be the most susceptible to predators. Rivers, lochs and costal waters. The River Otter rises in the Blackdown Hills just inside the county of Somerset, England near Otterford, then flows south through East Devon. 3. River Otter beavers 'native to UK', tests find. Habitat: Otters can be found beside rivers, streams and lakes, mostly in north and west England and Wales. In the UK, otters almost became extinct in the fifties and sixties because of rivers contaminated with chemical residues. When cornered on land, they will fight and scratch. Your River Otter Uk stock images are ready. The otter (Lutra lutra) was lost from most of England and Wales between the 1950s and the 1970s because of pesticide pollution of waterways. Published 19 March 2015. Within this territory the otter will live in dens that are called holts. Man, they know how to have fun. Download River otter stock photos. In the UK Otters frequent a range of habitat. Otters are a protected species and disturbing them is an offence. The River Otter may be a Devon river, but it actually starts its south-westerly journey to the sea from across the county border in Somerset. Photo: Screenshot of Ford Mustangs racing in Codemasters DIRT5 video game. Eurasian otters are indigenous to the UK and can be found in either fresh or salt water, although it’s usually known as the river otter for the obvious reason. The poet Coleridge was also smitten by it; although by all accounts he was too busy scribbling verse and frolicking with the ladies to spot many trout. Shropshire Wildlife Trust's Otter Project. See more ideas about otters, otter love, river otter. 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. The Lower River Otter, famed for the return of the beaver to England, is to undergo a restoration project to create a wetland wildlife reserve. It’s not hard to fall in love with the River Otter. I support Manchester United Football Club and like Otterpops. Also found along the west coast of Scotland. The sinuous otter is an excellent swimmer and can be seen hunting in wetlands, rivers and along the coast - try the west coast of Scotland, West Wales, the West Country or East Anglia for the best views. These Otters have been seen regularly up and down the River Welland in Market Harborough since the beginning of December 2013. Main Photo: River Otters on Ice Seedskadee NWR, Tom Koerner/USFWS, Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0). The Onion once ran a wonderful headline: “Black lab has best day of his life for 862nd day in a row.” You could easily apply that to river otters. "Rivers in England are the healthiest for over 20 years, and otters, salmon and other wildlife are returning to many rivers for the first time since the industrial revolution. A spate of fish disappearances in properties neighbouring the river have fish lovers wringing their hands in despair as their prized carp are proving easy pickings. Eurasian river otter › Giant otter › This large otter lives in groups. It hunts fish from the riverbed. They also eat crustaceans, frogs and even small water birds. In summary, to date, the species we have detected in the diet of our local otters on the river Don surrounding Sheffield includes: 9 fish species, 2 birds (moorhen and grey heron), an amphibian (frog/toad) and a crayfish species Crayfish was also found in spraints collected on the river Derwent. Find the perfect otters uk stock photo. Main navigation. Skip to main content The Wildlife Trusts. Otters have also benefited from reductions in the volume of water extracted from rivers by water companies, farmers and industry. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. ROGUE otters have plundered thousands of pounds worth of koi carp from ornamental fishponds in homes near the River Kennet. River otters are strong, unmatched swimmers in their environments, and on land they can run at speeds up to 15 miles per hour. Tracks are usually at least 2cm wide (wider than your thumbprint). River otters are very messy eaters—but they really appear to love eating. Otter (Lutra lutra) or European Otter. A plan to ‘restore’ the lower reaches of Devon’s River Otter by breaking through flood barriers and allowing a floodplain to develop has come in for opposition from a group fighting the move. Volunteers can help monitor otter populations for wildlife charities. The few natural river otter predators include bears, coyotes, bobcats, cougars and dogs. Otters are a protected species and disturbing them is an offence. No need to register, buy now! But it survived in Scotland’s cleanest bodies of water in the north and west. Affordable and search from millions of royalty free images, photos and vectors. Download all free or royalty-free photos and vectors. These are to be found mostly along river banks under rocks or amongst the root systems of trees for example. Otter spraints are messy smudges with a distinct, not unpleasant smell, and contain bones and fish scale remains. The ultimate river otter predators are humans. In freshwater they feed on trout and salmon. The reedbeds are also home to reed bunting and harvest mouse. Staveley- This site is great for otters - in 2012 it was home to a mother and cubs who were seen on several occassions. From other local news sites. Look out for otters along the river, as well as birds such as stonechat, water rail, curlew and sand martin in the summer months. Because otters eat mainly fish, you’ll generally find them in areas where there are plenty of this food source. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. 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. Today, the species is flourishing across Scotland, and recovering well across the UK as waterways are cleaned up. Oct 26, 2018 - Explore Lori Lee Rudy's board "River Otter", followed by 135 people on Pinterest. If otters fascinate you, below are some interesting otter facts. Now further fencing has been put up along the River Stour to prohibit access to a wider area of the riverbank. Nowadays, these charismatic animals can be seen in every county in the UK. Search. Fortunately, in 2011, the Environment Agency announced their return. British video game company Codemasters announced on 6 November that US giant Take-Two Interactive would be swallowing it up… Their playful watery antics have given much-needed cheer to passersby and have brought some welcome relief from the worries of the second national lockdown. Otters return to every county in England Once the rivers were cleaned up, fish returned to once-polluted waters and otters began to spread back eastwards from their strongholds in Devon and Wales About us. According to the Environment Agency, around 35m fewer litres a … 1. You know, they really appear to love everything they do. ANIMAL lovers have been left delighted after numerous sightings of otters in the River Kent. It’s a meandering and varied water to put it mildly. This website is a series of notes, observations, ideas and analyses of investments and trading. Speeding British Army soldier took police on … The first beavers to live wild in England for centuries are to be allowed to remain in their new home on the River Otter in east Devon after a five-year reintroduction trial.. The River Otter is one of the main water ways in East Devon, the other two being the River Sid and the River Axe.The River Otter cuts its way from just over the Somerset border through two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) to the coast at Budleigh Salterton through an area known as the Otter Valley.. Scotland is home to 90% of UK otters. Contact Paul Wilkinson at enquiries.westmidlands@canalrivertrust.org.uk. 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