The otter population in the United Kingdom is recovering – they are in almost every river

As recently as the 1970s, otters along the banks of British rivers were a rare sight. Animals of this species had almost completely disappeared, primarily due to water pollution. Today, the population has been rebuilt so successfully that these remarkable animals are appearing even in large cities across the United Kingdom.

Otters in every county – the story of saving a species

For centuries, otters were victims of British hunters. However, it was not hunting that led to the near extinction of the species, but water pollution caused by the uncontrolled development of industry and agriculture. Otters were particularly harmed by the presence of DDT in water. They also lost their natural habitats as a result of river regulation and the drainage of wetlands.

Studies conducted in the British Isles in the 1970s identified 3,000 otter habitats. Animals were found in only 6 percent of them. As Jon Trail of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust says: I think the surveys in the 1970s were a lightbulb moment for many people – they made them realise that otters had historically lived here and that they could no longer be seen.

Today, the population of European otters in the United Kingdom is at a safe level, and representatives of this species can be found in every county in the country. As the Dorset Wildlife Trust emphasises, this is primarily due to legal regulations. In the 1980s, the use of pesticides on fields was banned, which led to an improvement in water quality. Another step was taken in 1981, when otters were granted protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, which prohibits not only killing them but also disturbing them or destroying their homes. River renaturalisation has also helped restore natural habitats.

An unusual visitor in British cities

Recently, an article appeared on the website of The Guardian featuring a video showing an otter running through the city centre of Lincoln alongside a fox. The newspaper also reports sightings of otters in London’s Canary Wharf and on the riverbank in Stratford-upon-Avon. The presence of otters along urban rivers is also reported by the Dorset Wildlife Trust.

While foxes are a common element of the urban landscape, otters are a much more unusual sight. These animals prefer life around rivers, and their territories can stretch from 1 to 40 km, depending on the availability of food. Otters do not like to show themselves to people and feel most comfortable hidden among large trees with extensive root systems.

The appearance of an otter in the centre of Lincoln is evidence that the population of this species is growing and that their habitats are no longer limited to areas far from civilisation. Living close to people can, however, create problems. In York, otters have been observed catching fish from ponds, and in the Shetland Islands one individual was filmed raiding a kitchen in a private home, reports The Guardian.

European otters – aquatic hunters and lovers of riverside hideouts

European otters (Lutra lutra) are the only otter species present in the British Isles. They are a semi-aquatic species: they hunt in rivers, lakes and ponds, but their shelters are located on land, where they rest, breed and hide from threats. They require a diverse landscape to survive. They like to spend time on mid-river islands, wetlands and forests rich in ash and plane trees.

Otters feed mainly on fish, which according to data from the Wild Otter Trust make up 80 percent of their diet. When fish are scarce, they may also eat birds, small mammals or frogs. They are highly skilled hunters in water but cannot remain submerged for long. Due to the small capacity of their lungs, they must surface for air approximately every 30 seconds.

The recovering population of European otters in the United Kingdom is also a reason for celebration because individuals of this species have a positive impact on river cleanliness. As predators, they also help maintain balance in river ecosystems.