T. Longley
E
uropean otters are secretive, carnivorous
mammals that feed mainly on fish and frogs.
They are nocturnal, except in parts of the west
coast of Scotland, where they are active during
the day. They are one of our largest carnivores,
and male otters weigh 10–12kg and can grow up
to 1.2m in length. They are perfectly adapted to
hunting in the water; they have long streamlined
bodies, webbed feet and a strong tail. They also
have two types of hairs that form their coat;
an outer layer of thick hairs coated with oil to
repel water, and a dense underlayer of fur which
traps air and provides insulation. Otters are part
of the Mustelid family (Mustelidae), to which
badgers and weasels also belong.
Otters live along rivers, around lakes, and along
estuaries and coasts. In addition to an adequate
year-round supply of food, otters need water free
of pollution, places to rest up during the day and to
raise young. Resting and breeding dens are called
‘holts’, and are often found under tree roots, a pile
of rocks, or in a hole in the bank. Above-ground
resting sites include reedbeds and other dense
vegetation and are often called ‘couches’.
Otters are notoriously difficult to see, but
evidence of their presence can be found in the
form of black droppings called ‘spraints’ that are
deposited on prominent rocks, under bridges
and on logs, tussocks and mounds. They usually
contain fish bones and are
distinguishable from mink
droppings (scats). Otter
droppings do not have such
an unpleasant smell, and are
often described as smelling
of jasmine tea! Footprints
and prey remains are other
good field signs to look for.
In the 1950s and 1960s, otters in Britain underwent
a huge decline. This has been attributed to the
introduction and widespread use of organochlorine
pesticides, which accumulate in the food chain,
affecting top predators such as otters. They can
cause reduced fertility and increased mortality.
Other sources of pollution and loss of suitable bank
side habitat also contributed to the decline.
The otter currently has strongholds in south-west
England, central and southern Wales and Scotland.
There are other populations scattered throughout
England, and numbers have been boosted in some
areas by reintroduction programmes, especially in
East Anglia.
otter
Coastal otters need fresh water to clean salt from
their fur because otherwise it loses its ability to
keep the otter warm.
English Nature
European Otter - Lutra lutra
Kent Wildlife Trust
The good news is that the otter has been making a
comeback in England. The National Otter Survey
for England, found that otters now occupy five times
more sites than they occupied twenty-five years
ago. The otter receives full legal protection under the
Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 and the European
Habitats Directive, meaning that otters are protected
and their holts and resting places are protected from
disturbance and destruction.
In Kent, there are otters in the Medway and Stour
catchments, but otherwise, there are very few records
of this species in the county.
The Environment Agency, Medway Valley Countryside
Partnership and Kentish Stour Project conduct
surveys, hold training talks and recruit volunteers to
monitor otter signs. The creation of artificial holts
and safe road passes has also been carried out
by the Environment Agency, Local Authorities and
the Countryside Management projects. The Kent
Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) aims to identify key
stretches of river for enhancement for otters and to
incorporate otter underpasses in relevant transport
schemes. Local Environment Agency Plans in Kent
now include targets and actions for otters. It is hoped
that, through these measures, the national trend of
increasing otter populations can also be achieved in
Kent.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
UK Biodiversity Action Plan:
www.ukbap.org.uk/ukplans.aspx?ID=428
Environment Agency: www.environment-agency.gov.uk
English Nature: www.english-nature.org.uk
Kent Wildlife Trust: www.kentwildlife.org.uk
Kent Biodiversity Action Plan: www.kentbap.org.uk
The Mammal Society: www.abdn.ac.uk/mammal/
The Kent Red Data Book, available from
Kent County Council: www.kent.gov.uk/biodiversity
Mammal Trust UK: www.mtuk.org
Kent Landscape Information System:
www.kent.gov.uk/klis
Kent and Medway Biological Record Centre:
www.kmbrc.org.uk
Data courtesy of the Environment Agency
Published: 2004
Please note that this map represents
records submitted to the Biological
Record Centre and does not
necessarily show an accurate
representation of the European
Otter’s distribution in Kent