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HELP US IN OUR NATIONAL SURVEY OF OTTERS

Register your otter sightings.

Aims
Otter Watch is a practical project which will co-ordinate otter sightings both dead and alive.

The Eurasian otter is one of the sad casualties of the 20th century with populations declining by 95% in certain parts of England and Wales. Now there are signs that otters are returning and we need your help to see if this comeback is being successful.

The conservation of the otter is vitally important as the otter is at the top of both the acquatic and land food chains and it is highly sensitive to any form of disturbance, pollution and habitat destruction. Because they are so sensitive they act as a warning signal for the health of the environment and this is obviously important for the well-being of humans too.

VIC SIMPSON OF THE WILDLIFE VETERINARY INVESTIGATION CENTRE IN CORNWALL HAS WRITTEN A PAPER ON BITE WOUNDS IN OTTERS.  HE CARRIES OUT POST MORTEMS ON OTTERS AND HAS FOUND THAT THE NUMBER WITH BITE WOUNDS IS DEFINITELY INCREASING.  HOWEVER THERE ARE VERY FEW RECORDS OF OTTERS ACTUALLY BEING SEEN TO BE FIGHTING.  SO WE WOULD ASK FOR YOUR HELP IN LETTING US KNOW IF YOU SEE THIS - PLEASE GIVE AS MUCH DETAIL AS YOU CAN. THANKS.

 
Use the following form to tell us about your otter sighting.

 

Date: Time:
Nearest Town:
Location: (Name of river, lake, etc.)
Grid Ref:
No. OF OTTERS: Adults: Cubs:
DEAD OR ALIVE:
(If dead, cause of death if known):
NOTES ESPECIALLY EVIDENCE OF OTTERS FIGHTING:
NAME:
ADDRESS:

EMAIL ADDRESS: 
Thank you  

Note

Please remember otters are very vulnerable to disturbance so respect the habitat and do not leave litter and if you are fortunate enough to see an otter in the wild, just watch quietly and enjoy but do not try to get closer and closer until you frighten it away.

The otter will probably be trying to feed and if you disturb it then it will only have to waste valuable energy to hunt again elsewhere.