Wild Eurasian otters are elusive - can you spot one?
WWT Washington offers a great opportunity to spot these fantastic predators. You often don’t see much - a square-shaped head pops up just above the water surface, setting off a few ripples, and your attention is grabbed, your senses on full alert.
Observing more closely in the gathering gloom of dusk, you can just make out a dog-like face and long whiskers. The animal moves effortlessly through the water and then it dives and you get a glimpse of that long, narrowing tail, confirming it beyond doubt as the wetland’s number-one predator in the UK – the Eurasian otter.
Our reserve team at WWT Washington, led by reserve manager John Gowland, manage the reserve to encourage these otters onto the wild areas of our site.
In 2012, we introduced a breach at the saline lagoon which is fed by the tide from the adjacent River Wear. We also created hedges under which otters can feed without hassle. Being undisturbed is important for this species and each individual will have several hideaways, or ‘holts’, out of sight within tree roots, in drains or culverts.
In 2015, we introduced several man-made holts to further encourage otters to stay in the area or encourage breeding – which has seen success following sightings of family groups.
Our reserve team continually manage the reserve to encourage otters (and other mammals) to visit. The habitat around the Saline Lagoon has matured and the reedbed is now acting as a fish reef nursery, which in turn is encouraging the otter as well as a host of fish eating animals such as kingfisher and little egret.
An otter has just one litter a year, of two or three cubs; perhaps surprisingly, the females can give birth in any season, though in the Northeast, breeding is more confined to the summer months. Besides mating, males play no further part in family life – this is typical of British carnivores. Once weaned, cubs may remain with their mother for a year or more, and most multiple sightings of otters are of family groups.
Not surprisingly, with several mouths to feed, the mothers are completely dependent on finding a rich supply of food within their territory if they are to raise their cubs to independence – so it’s a great sign if you see a family of otters as you know the area is rich in biodiversity! So next time you visit Washington, keep your eyes peeled for otter signs – and you might even hit the jackpot.
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