Staffordshire Wildlife Trust Doxey Marshes – Although well known as a great bird watching location, Doxey Marshes is also home to regionally significant populations of otter, which are regularly recorded on the reserve, as well as harvest mouse and water shrew.
Are there otters in UK canals?
Otters are now found in most of England and Wales as conservation efforts successfully encourage their return. Lakes, rivers and rocky or coastal areas are the otters’ natural habitats, and they can also be spotted hunting prey in quiet stretches of the canals.
Where do otters live in the UK?
Otter hotspots include the west coast of Wales and South West England. They will live wherever there is clean freshwater with plenty of food and secluded areas of vegetation to rest and raise young. Rivers, canals and lakes are ideal, and coastlines too if there’s a freshwater source nearby.
Where can I find an otter?
Range. Southern sea otters can be found along California’s central coast, from San Mateo County in the north to near Santa Barbara in the south. Northern sea otters are found along the coast of Alaska and Washington, and Russian otters are found in the Pacific Ocean off Russia and Japan.
Do otters live in canals?
Otters almost disappeared from English waterways during the 1960s and 1970s, due to a combination of pollution and persecution. But since then they have made a major comeback, and are now found in canals in a number of cities, including Birmingham.
What time of day are otters most active UK?
Dawn and dusk are good times to watch for otters. It is also when other wildlife is most active, and their behaviour may give away an otter’s presence. A flock of ducks suddenly swimming rapidly one way, glancing over their shoulders, could be a sign of an otter nearby.
What time of day are otters most active?
night
Otters can hold their breath for 8 minutes. Their fur repels water. Otters are most active at night and at dawn and dusk.
What to do if you see an otter?
What to do when I encounter otters?
- DO NOT touch, chase or corner the otters. Observe them from a distance.
- DO NOT talk loudly and do not use flash photography. Noise and light may scare and provoke the otters.
- DO NOT feed the otters.
- DO NOT litter or leave sharp objects in the water.
- DO keep your dog on a tight leash.
Do otters come out in the daytime?
In the wild, North American river otters are more likely to be nocturnal (active at night) or crepuscular (active around dawn and dusk), but daytime activity is not unheard of.
How big are UK otters?
In the UK otters can only really be confused with the introduced American mink, but otters are much larger (95-130cm in length, including tail), with a distinctive white throat. Droppings (spraints) and footprints are more likely to be seen than the actual animal.
How do you attract otters?
You can use cat food, fruits or corn as bait to trap the animal. The best bait to trap the animal would be fish-based foods, the best being fresh fish, then sardines. The more food you place in a trap, the higher the chances of catching a otter.
Are otters good on land?
Though brilliant swimmers, river otters are as comfortable on land as they are in the water. River otters can walk and run easily on land, traveling as fast as 15 miles per hour.
Where do otters most commonly live?
Marine otters live along the Pacific coast of South America, ranging from northern Peru to Tierra del Fuego. Neotropical otters range from Uruguay north to Central America and Mexico. Southern river otters are found in Argentina and Chile. Giant otters are found throughout almost all of South America.
Where do otters sleep at night?
Sleep. Freshwater otters generally rest and sleep on land, either above ground or in dens. They are not particular about where they sleep and often do so even in areas of moderate disturbance. Individual animals often have several resting places.
Do otters dig under fences?
An otter can dig under a fence, especially into soft ground. In addition, rabbits, badgers and foxes may dig under fences, creating holes which an otter can use.
Do otters prefer land or water?
Otters prefer water bordered by woods and with wetlands, such as marshes, nearby. Flexing their long bodies up and down, paddling with their webbed hind feet, and using their feet and strong tails to steer, river otters are underwater acrobats. They can stay underwater for up to four minutes.
Are river otters friendly?
Nicole Duplaix, who chairs the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Otter Specialist Group, said otters are known for being friendly animals, but, like most other creatures, keep their distance from humans.
Do otters come out in the winter?
North American river otters are semiaquatic mammals that do not hibernate when winter comes around. They are primarily nocturnal, but become more diurnal in winter, meaning they are active during the day and sleep at night.
What eats a otter?
Bobcats, alligators, coyotes, raptors, and other large predators will sometimes prey on North American river otters.
Are otters aggressive?
Otters live near lakes or ponds and burrow in ditches, so interaction with people can occur. With their sweet appearance and playful nature, it may seem impossible that otters are dangerous. However, otters can be aggressive when necessary. The animals sometimes even hunt snakes to supplement their usual diet of fish.
How do you tell if you have otters in your pond?
OTTER SIGNS AND TRAILS
The vegetation is usually flattened out, and the area may contain numerous piles of otter scat, often comprised of fish scales or crayfish parts. Slides: The most obvious and best-known evidence of otters — mud or ice/snow. Riverbank slides 8″ (200 mm) wide, much wider with heavy use.