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European otter (lutra lutra, Brunnich 1771)
Family: Mustelidae
Sub family: Lutrinae
Length averaging: 1 to 1.3 metres in length and can weigh up to 9kg. (Males are larger than females)
Otters are found in most countries except Australia and the Antarctica.
The Otter being in the Mustelidae family is related to weasels, stoats, badgers, mink, polecats, ferrets and Pine Martins. Arguably most of these animals have been here for millions of years.
Otters being the only water lovers of the weasel family as they are naturally semi-aquatic predators. Main diet being fish, frogs and crustaceans, but will also prey on birds (mainly water birds and bird eggs) and mammals, if fish are scarce.
Breeding will take place over most of the months of the year but mainly in the early spring months. Two to three pups are born with eyes closed for up to 5 weeks, weighing no more than 40g. The gestation (pregnancy) is around nine weeks. The pups are unable to swim at first, but will soon take to the water goaded by the parents. They soon become very strong swimmers but will remain with their parents for up to 15 months. Once matured they develop a very long muscular tail, sensitive whiskers and sharp claws enabling them to detect and catch their slippery prey. Otter’s fur is very dense and waterproof, this helps to keep the body warm, in colder waters.
Otters live in underground holes close to the water’s edge called “Holts”, Usually having more than one entrance/exit, although at least one entrance/exit will be above the water level.
Habitat: Always near water, rivers, lakes, canals, wetlands, coastlines.
Otters are now recorded in most of United Kingdom’s counties. They are very vulnerable to water qualities and food stocks, unfortunately in some counties the rivers are not kept up to a healthy standard where good management is always required. The otter being top of the food chain will always be the most vulnerable to water conditions and fish stocks in our rivers, if this is fails then the otter may venture more to still water lakes that are preserved for stocking fish, for food or sporting events such as angling; which has undoubtingly led to the otters decline in the past.
Otters are native to the UK and have no known true predators.
A group of European otters are called a “romp”
For more detailed information regarding otters, please visit the “Wild Otter Trust” website.
https://ukwildottertrust.org/
Read MoreFamily: Mustelidae
Sub family: Lutrinae
Length averaging: 1 to 1.3 metres in length and can weigh up to 9kg. (Males are larger than females)
Otters are found in most countries except Australia and the Antarctica.
The Otter being in the Mustelidae family is related to weasels, stoats, badgers, mink, polecats, ferrets and Pine Martins. Arguably most of these animals have been here for millions of years.
Otters being the only water lovers of the weasel family as they are naturally semi-aquatic predators. Main diet being fish, frogs and crustaceans, but will also prey on birds (mainly water birds and bird eggs) and mammals, if fish are scarce.
Breeding will take place over most of the months of the year but mainly in the early spring months. Two to three pups are born with eyes closed for up to 5 weeks, weighing no more than 40g. The gestation (pregnancy) is around nine weeks. The pups are unable to swim at first, but will soon take to the water goaded by the parents. They soon become very strong swimmers but will remain with their parents for up to 15 months. Once matured they develop a very long muscular tail, sensitive whiskers and sharp claws enabling them to detect and catch their slippery prey. Otter’s fur is very dense and waterproof, this helps to keep the body warm, in colder waters.
Otters live in underground holes close to the water’s edge called “Holts”, Usually having more than one entrance/exit, although at least one entrance/exit will be above the water level.
Habitat: Always near water, rivers, lakes, canals, wetlands, coastlines.
Otters are now recorded in most of United Kingdom’s counties. They are very vulnerable to water qualities and food stocks, unfortunately in some counties the rivers are not kept up to a healthy standard where good management is always required. The otter being top of the food chain will always be the most vulnerable to water conditions and fish stocks in our rivers, if this is fails then the otter may venture more to still water lakes that are preserved for stocking fish, for food or sporting events such as angling; which has undoubtingly led to the otters decline in the past.
Otters are native to the UK and have no known true predators.
A group of European otters are called a “romp”
For more detailed information regarding otters, please visit the “Wild Otter Trust” website.
https://ukwildottertrust.org/
