They have a long, streamlined body which can grow up to 1.2m in males (known as dogs) and 1m in … Our otters at ZSL London Zoo are Oriental small-clawed otters and are actually the smallest species of otter. 6: NEVER BAIT AREAS OR OTTERS. Oakham Shop Opening Times: Monday-Saturday 09:00-17:30. This holiday home offers a garden. Otter Project We run a long term environmental surveillance scheme, using otters found dead to investigate contaminants, disease, and population biology across the UK. Volunteers can help monitor otter populations for wildlife charities. Sea otters feed almost exclusively on slow moving fishes and invertebrates like crabs, clams, snails, sea urchins, abalones, and mussels. 2021 © All Rights Reserved. Otters are restless, playful and secretive mammals that spend most of their time along riverbanks. It establishes a burrow close to the water's edge in river, lake, swamp, coastal shoreline, tidal flat, or estuary ecosystems. One of the reasons for the excitement, is like humans Otters appear to like their food. Find out more about them by clicking on the map. The Otter is a European protected species and is afforded protection under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 . IOSF has been vetted and approved to receive grants from CAF America; if you are a US donor wishing to make a tax-deductible contribution to support us, you may give to CAF America and recommend that the grant be made to … But you can bank on the fact that there is an otter somewhere in a river near you if you live in Britain - a remarkable success story for a species driven to extinction in many parts of the country just decades ago. Their webbed feet and long, muscular tail enable them to swim comfortably at about one metre […] But don't mistakenly call these beasts 'sea otters' – they are still our native otter, and not the different North American sea otter. Otter Habitat and Distribution Otters are found on every single continent in the world except for Australia and Antarctica. Giant otters use these marks to recognize one another, and upon meeting other otters, they engage in a behavior known as "periscoping", displaying their throats and upper chests to each other. 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. Mating occurs at any time of the year and females give birth to 2 – 3 cubs, usually between May and August. The weight of the Canadian otter can reach 14 kg. The otter is lithe and slender with short legs, a strong neck, and a long flat tail that helps propel it gracefully through water. 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 3. Otters are slow to reproduce and most mothers only bear two sets of cubs in their lifetime. – but our river systems still require extensive habitat management to restore them to a healthy level that can sustain fish stocks and wildlife. Orginally aired 21/02/11 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. River otters as a whole look quite similar to weasels. While otters completely disappeared from the rivers of most of central and southern England in just 50 years, their future now looks much brighter. But it survived in Scotland’s cleanest bodies of water in the north and west. In the UK IOSF is the only charity solely dedicated to the conservation, protection and care of otters based on years of scientific research in the UK and around the world. Giant otter muzzles are short and sloping and give the head a ball-shaped appearance. Otters have small, rounded ears, and long sensitive whiskers to help them feel the vibrations of their prey. The International Otter Survival Fund (IOSF) is one of the world's leading otter charities. Do more with Bing Maps. In North America, the Canadian otter lives, which differs from the common otter only in its large size and skull structure. Contact Paul Wilkinson at enquiries.westmidlands@canalrivertrust.org.uk. Newborns are only about 12cm long but grow quickly and can swim at three months. The return of otters to the UK. The sea otters were scientifically described for the first time by the German zoologist Georg Steller (March 10, 1709-Tiumén, November 14, 1746)) in field notes in the year 1751.. A few years later, the Swedish botanist Carlos Linnaeus (May 23, 1707-January 10, 1778) also described them in his work Systema Naturae which was written in 1758. While otters completely disappeared from the rivers of most of central and southern England in just 50 years, their future now looks much brighter. Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Willington Gravel Pits - This former sand and gravel quarry provides a haven for wildlife in the Trent Valley. Cubs are usually born in a holt in a bank, or between rocks or tree roots. A TV is provided. If you would like to discover the area Otters' Green from Mapcarta, the free map. In the Area Localities Curdridge Village, 1 mile northeast Boorley Green Hamlet, 1 … These are very important, as they are used to communicate with other otters. Visit our otters at ZSL London Zoo Why not also find out more about our current projects. Otters are fun creatures to watch and they are highly intelligent. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. Eurasian otters may also live along the coast, in salt water, but require regular access to fresh water to clean their fur. Look for track marks by the water’s edge and see if you can find any holts (otter dens) along the bank. Excellent and lithe swimmers, the young are in the water by 10 weeks of age. They enjoy the freshwater but they are also known to live in the saltwater of the oceans as well. Shropshire Wildlife Trust's Otter Project. Otters tend to be seen close to shore. It is no wonder that the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) has inspired some wonderful writing, from Henry Williamson's Tarka the Otter to Gavin Maxwell's Ring of Bright Water. In the UK IOSF is the only charity solely dedicated to the conservation, protection and care of otters based on years of scientific research in the UK and around the world. IOSF has been vetted and approved to receive grants from CAF America; if you are a US donor wishing to make a tax-deductible contribution to support us, you may give to CAF America and recommend that the grant be made to IOSF. "It's not physically possible for them to spread very quickly," said Yoxon. Otters are often elusive, with large ranges and nocturnal behaviour making spotting them a rare and wonderful experience. 5 April 2019 Changed which sections of the Wildlife and Countryside Act give protection to otters. Otters are slow to reproduce and most mothers only bear two sets of cubs in their lifetime. They are usually a shade of light brown, which can look darker when wet. They are perfectly adapted to a semi-aquatic life. They are born weighing only 4.5 ounces (128 grams) for smaller species and 5 lbs. The otter (Lutra lutra) was lost from most of England and Wales between the 1950s and the 1970s because of pesticide pollution of waterways. Cape clawless otters and Asian small clawed otters love frogs, crustaceans, crabs and mollusks. Such murmurations occur around Britain — starlingsintheuk.co.uk has a roost map — but most breathtakingly on Somerset’s Avalon Marshes , wetlands and … When living in the sea, individuals of this species are sometimes referred to as "sea otters", but they should not be confused with the true sea otter , a North Pacific species much more strongly adapted to a marine existence. IOSF has been vetted and approved to receive grants from CAF America; if you are a US donor wishing to make a tax-deductible contribution to support us, you may give to CAF America and recommend that the grant be made to … They leave the protection of their mothers at 10 – 12 months and can breed at 2 years old. Otters' Green is an accommodation in Hampshire. 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. 7: Never remove spraints (dung). Otters are carnivorous mustelids in the Lutrinae subfamily.There are 13 extant species of otter around the world, one of which is native to the UK. One of the most rewarding wildlife experiences in Britain, an otter is a magical sight and a conservation success. Earsham Wetland Centre on the banks of the River Waveney, on the Suffolk-Norfolk border, offers free entry and a riverside walk where they are regularly spotted. Otter Social Structure The social structure of Otters is one that seems very complex from the outside looking in. Otters consume mainly fish but many people think that they eat plants and berries. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Company Number: 109031
It is the former otter-breeding centre for The Otter Trust. Website by Doug Lapsley. Size: Males (also known as dog otters) can reach a length of 130cm from nose to tail, while females (bitch otters) are smaller. There is evidence that in certain parts of the UK the otter is extending its range 15 December 2014 The link for more detail on surveys … There are 13 species of otter which live in Europe, Asia, Africa, North, Central and South America: Eurasian otters, smooth-coated otters, Asian small-clawed otters, hairy-nosed otters, sea otters, North American river otters, neotropical otters, giant otters, Southern river otters, marine otters, African clawless otters, Congo clawless otters and spotted-necked otters. Otter information, Habitat, Feeding, Anatomy, Reproduction, PredatorsFacts about Sea Otter, Giant Otter, European Otter, African Otter and River Otter Otter droppings, or spraints, are often used to mark territory. Location: One of the widest distributions of a UK mammal species, the Eurasian Otter is found throughout Europe, eastern Russia and China, south and south east Asia and north Africa. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, 8 things to make your daily walk more special, Calls for garden centres to close during lockdown, National Trust outdoor locations to stay open, Bizarre 'hair ice' found in Northern Ireland, 2020 to become Britain's "greenest year on record", Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall on Jan health kicks, How to turn your Christmas tree into a bird feeder, The best garden holidays for 2021 and beyond, Remote island seeks 5 new volunteer wardens, Country Living, Part of the Hearst UK Fashion & Beauty Network. Otters are carnivorous mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae. One of the most rewarding wildlife experiences in Britain, an otter is a magical sight and a conservation success. Otters are semi-aquatic mammals and well adapted to life in the water. Here are the best places in the UK where you can catch a glimpse of these fascinating creatures... Bosherston Lakes in Pembrokeshire is one of the most reliable places for seeing these mammals. The North American river otter, a member of the subfamily Lutrinae in the weasel family (Mustelidae), is equally versatile in the water and on land. The video was sent into the organisation by a Kendal resident, who captured the otters competing against each other to claim the tasty prize. But having seen a British otter at the Sanctuary and read the facts about otters, visitors should not have any problem distinguishing between mink and otters. Please remain aware of how the otter is behaving. A UK's first - Sea Otters! Britain’s otters may breed during any month of the year. Otters Fine Foods. Sussex Wildlife Trust's Wetland Landscapes Officer, Fran Southgate on BBC1's Inside Out talking about otters in Sussex. 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