Pet otters need a lot of attention. Never put a photograph, film clip, or personal experience before the welfare of the otter. Located at the heart of Exeter city centre, Cricklepit Mill is one of the best places to spot otters. Otters do not reproduce quickly. This is essential to ensure that the otters reduce predation of stillwater lakes and, of course, so that anglers are able to enjoy their historic and popular pastime and live in harmony with the beautiful otter. Sightings often happen during mid-afternoon. In recent years the otter has encountered new and varied threats, including habitat destruction (road building, new urban development), persecution by fishery owners and gamekeepers (as they are seen as a threat to fish and game birds – which is untrue), and if near the sea, injury and capture in fishing nets. These are 2 – 7cm long, will contain fish bones and scales, be tarry and black but turn grey when old, and naturally, will smell very strongly of fish! Otters have reappeared in places where they have not been seen since the industrial revolution, including Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester, and even on the Thames and the Lea in north London. The use of pesticides containing organochlorine chemicals was also stopped. These otters have brown-to-gray fur, and their undersides are a lighter, silvery shade. They communicate via whistles, twittering noises and spitting sounds, which can be heard at night when it is quiet and still. Their body shape aids in helping them make sudden turns to catch fish and other prey. Other members of this family are weasels, polecats and badgers. When is the best time to see otters? Their main habitat is on the land near to water bodies. Beware of ticks (which can carry Lyme disease) and consult your doctor should you feel unwell, Charity Registration Number - The sea otter, however, rarely comes ashore, according to the San Diego Zoo. Do your homework to ensure that you’re fully educated before venturing out to otter spot. While authorities say that numbers are looking good for otters, you must still take part in efforts to safeguard these adorable mammals, especially since threats to their existence remain. It’s one of the things … In fact, in their lifetime, most females only give birth to two sets of pups. Otters prefer to live in bodies of water that are close to land offering them wetlands or the woods close by. Spraints: In other words, otter droppings. This can include rivers, canals, lakes and wetland areas. Two species are marine; the others live mostly in fresh water. Their gestation period is 9 weeks and they can breed at any time of the year, although this usually occurs in spring. They also have five toes – a distinctive sign that it’s an otter print. Where Do They Live Otters can be found in many different parts of the world depending on the types of otters spotted. When she's not writing, she's busy trekking or exploring beaches. Otters are very playful: Don’t be surprised when you see otters happily sliding. During your walk, you may spot other animals such as seals, herons, swans and tufted duck. However, between the 1950s and 1970s, their numbers significantly dropped, prompting conservationists to sound the alarm bells for one of UK’s beloved animals. There are three subspecies of sea otters: southern, northern and Russian sea otters. River otters possess long, muscular bodies suited to their life on both land and in water. Given these facts and the existing threats, it is not impossible for their number to drop again. At the visitor centre, there is an interactive screen where you can watch footage of otters during their visits to the Mill. Predators such as the bald eagle may eat the pups. Changes in traditional farming methods also play a part in threatening the otter via the increasing use of pesticides. Otters are carnivorous animals and fish make up 80% of their diet. Otters are carnivorous animals and fish make up 80% of their diet, Located at the heart of Exeter city centre, Cricklepit Mill is one of the best places to spot otters. North American river otters were hunted and trapped extensively for their fur in the 19th and 20th centuries, and are still hunted in some places. Some of them are listed below: This ancient woodland on the River Lune is consider an otter hotspot. You may find them resting on ditches, tree roots and boardwalks, among others. These elusive animals are also highly sensitive.  Stay quiet when observing them and never disturb them and their habitat. Otters are adorable animals and they can live both in the land and in the river. The oldest recorded otter reached around 12 years of age, but this is exceptional. One of … Their small heads widen to long necks and shoulders, and they have flattened, well-muscled tails. Its eyes are placed at the top of the head, so it can remain alert whilst the rest of the body is underwater. She loves animals and currently cares for three adorable chihuahuas. In the latter two they get most of their food. Avoid rivers in full flood or fast-flowing sections There are reports of otter sightings at this traditional hill farm. Otters cannot be kept as pets because they require specific conditions for longevity. Others are getting caught in fishing nets and crayfish traps, while some are dying in road accidents. The northern sea otter tends to haul out more than others. So, to increase your chance of seeing them, take a walk along the River Tees. Otter sightings have been reported in various parts of the country. There is a high chance of one of them getting bitten. This isn’t surprising at all given the city centre’s proximity to Winnall Moors, estimated to be a 10-minute walk. They can live eight to nine years in the wild but have lived up to 21 years in captivity. 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