MAMMAL: Otters in Cumbria

February 10, 2011:
There have been several recent reports of Otters being seen at a locality in Cumbria so today's unexpected glorious weather gave an opportunity to go to look for them.



A short wait by the lake-side was rewarded by the first sighting as what appeared to be a young one surfaced and rolled about in the water for a few seconds. Soon afterwards a group of three appeared, their size suggesting them to be an adult and two juveniles. These two engaged in a playful squabble before the parent guided them away out of view. There are frequent sightings of Otters in the north-west nowadays suggesting that they are undergoing a significant revival from their former scarcity when they suffered from the poisonous effects of chlorinated pesticides.