Otter spread

[foxdropper]

Otters seem to be on the up around me .One dead on the road near Keynsham and mate had one in his pond last night near Chippenham .
Just wondering if it’s a nationwide thing .

 

[long_range_rob]

Otter spread? Surely that would be otter pate?

 

[Brighty3006]

Here now in south lincolnshire

 

[foxdropper]

Saw one whilst pike fishing while back on the Avon near Corsham .Sighting by quite a few people of them in town centres if there’s a river ,canal nearby .

 

[Bramble]

They were released at the top of the Itchen just over 30 years ago and now we have a very good population, so much so that most of the coarse lakes have had to be fenced!
I think the theory was that there would only be enough territory for two pairs on the Itchen, but back then there were so many eels around I think they didn't need such large territory, now most of the eels have gone they have moved to the next easiest food supply.
They have spread into Hampshire from the west and are now as far as Kent.
We have them on our beats, they take a few stockie's which we can live with.

 

[Fair Hill]

They're harmless, beautiful creatures really. I love spotting them if I'm lucky enough to while out fishing. I often saw them put on a display in a pool and have caught trout from a pool while they were swimming in it.

Fully protected here in Ireland since 1990, it's a sign that the water quality is very good if an otter lives in it.

 

[willie_gunn]

It may be anecdotal, but I seem to recall that otters can now be found on every river system in the UK.

I have been lucky enough to see them multiple times when fishing for salmon, from the North Tyne up to the Blackwater in Sutherland. Magical animals.

 

[308tikka]

Otters seem to be on the up around me .One dead on the road near Keynsham and mate had one in his pond last night near Chippenham .
Just wondering if it’s a nationwide thing .

What a coincidence. This was mentioned to me today relating to a fishpond near a permission.

Beautiful creatures, but no doubt have found the equivalent of the frozen food aisle whenever a bit hungry.

Good luck to them, hopefully Ill spot one.

 

[Pedro]

Beautiful creatures, but they can devastate inland waterways.

 

[20-250]

They're harmless, beautiful creatures really.

Can't argue with the second bit- they're truly captivating and beautiful, for sure. But harmless? Really?

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Last New Year's day at Whitesands in Dumfries.

Otters

Regards

JCS

 

[steveford1]

Lots in the Boyde & Avon causing problems!

 

[Wilfowler1]

Plenty around Oxfordshire Northants borders.

 

[User00043]

Been seen at Rutland Water

 

[8x57]

Made quite a come back in Monmouthshire too within the last few years including in the more urban areas.

 

[AGR]

They are everywhere, many of them are released immigrants apparently!
Part of the reason may be the proliferation of signal crayfish providing easy feed for the young.

 

[ejg]

Had some otters in the garden late last year, played in our stream and ran through the garden. Only about 20yds from the house. The lab puppies are getting bigger now, recon they drove the away. South coast Ireland.
edi

 

[AGR]

Beavers next!

 

[slider]

fairly common on many Scottish river systems and I have also seen them in costal waters in Kintyre

 

[dartmoordog]

Plenty here in Devon, but they will devastate a small closed water fishery for sure.