Otter
The otter is one of Britain's best-loved mammals.
Over recent years, national affection and dedicated conservation efforts have helped ensure the long-term survival of an animal whose forebears inhabited the earth some 30 million years ago.
Twelve different otter species now live across the globe in North and South America, South Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) brings the total to 13 and is the only species to inhabit Europe. These short-limbed mammals can be found in France, Greece, Spain, Turkey and Scandinavia - and happily the UK population is now showing healthy signs of growth after its sad decline in the 1950s. Otters have been sighted in Scotland, Wales, Cumbria, the South West and the Midlands as conservation efforts successfully encourage their return.
Lakes, rivers and rocky or coastal areas are the otters' natural habitats, and they can also be spotted hunting their prey in quiet stretches of the canals. Otter territories are vast, covering up to 25 miles (40km) of watercourses and dense vegetation or wooded areas, which they use for resting purposes and for breeding holts. However, otters are timid and not often observed by humans. You are more likely to come across one of their smaller and more confident cousins, the mink.
Facts
Appearance: Otters are always brown in colour with long bodies, strong tails and webbed feet to help them swim quickly through the water. Their eyes are located at the top of their heads and they have sensitive whiskers growing around their snout which can help them detect prey. Otters benefit from a double-layer of fur: a thick waterproof outer coat and a warm inner one
Size: Males measure 115cm from nose to tail. Females are slightly smaller at 100cm
Weight: 7-9kg
Lifespan: Up to four years. There are rare instances recorded of otters living up to 12 years
Diet: Mainly fish and crabs but carnivorous otters also eat birds, small mammals and frogs
Family: Otters belong to the Mustelid family along with badgers, polecats, weasels, stoats and mink. Otters are the only amphibious family-member
Did you know?
- Through evolution, otters have come to have unusually large lungs and can hold their breath for up to three minutes
- Despite this otters will only spend around 30 seconds underwater diving for food. This means the otter has to be very accurate as it swoops in on its prey - it is unlikely to get a second chance!
- Otters display communication patterns which are almost human. They express themselves using a combination of whistles and twitters and are even known to spit (although this otter habit is less unmannerly than its human equivalent)
- Studies have identified more than 100 separate scent components (spraint) in otter droppings. Around 17 of these are believed to contain information regarding age and gender which is useful to other otters
contact us
print page