Otters are carnivorous mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae. They predate heavily on native animals and are strongly implicated in dramatic declines in water vole Arvicola terrestris populations, a species now considered endangered over much of the country. Perhaps the most foolproof location for otters is the Isle of Mull. In the UK, otters almost became extinct in the fifties and sixties because of rivers contaminated with chemical residues. © Ariadne Van Zandbergen/GettyUntil recently, the spotted-necked otter was considered to be part of the Lutra genus, but it is now placed in the Hydrictus genus. They are fast, naturally secretive and usually nocturnal. Otters declined catastrophically throughout England in the late 1950s. In the wild, the distribution range of this species includes India, Taiwan and southern China. However, between the 1950s and 1970s, their numbers significantly dropped, prompting conservationists to sound the alarm bells for one of UK’s beloved animals. Author Miriam Darlington, in her book Otter Country, described the hide at Kylerhea on Skye as an ‘Otter haven’. About the National Non-Native Species Secretariat. Ask anyone what their favourite wetland animal is and many will say it’s an otter. The species was driven to near extinction in some areas between the 1950s and 1970s, but thanks to improvements in water quality and greater protection it can once again be found across Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and – as of 2011 – every county in England. It is found in the rainforests of the Congo basin including Democratic Republic of Congo, Equitorial Guinea and Gabon. Otters and their mustelid relatives were once hunted extensively for their fur, many to the point of near extinction. You can discover some of our favourite otter facts here: Editorial and digital co-ordinator at BBC Wildlife Magazine, and countryfile.com. Otters seek clean rivers, filled with food and overgrown banks where they can raise their cubs. Beautiful, sleek and playful, otters are a joy to watch as they twist and dive in the water. Keep an ear out for scrabbling, splashing and squeaking. Otters feed at dawn and dusk so the two hours before are generally the best time for otter spotting. Meet the adorable members of the otter family from around the world. Otters are carnivorous mammals with thick fur and webbed feet. The oldest recorded otter reached around 12 years of age, but this is exceptional. Following a period of serious decline between the 1950s and 1970s when the species was driven to near extinction in some areas, these water-dwelling mammals have made a comeback in every county in England and beyond. There are 13 extant species of otter around the world, one of which is native to the UK. In other regions the otter shares aquatic habitats with species specialised to different habitats such as sea otters, but in Ireland the otters that live at the coast and those that occupy our rivers are the same species. Cubs are usually born in a holt in a bank, or between rocks or tree roots. An adult North American river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg (11.0 and 30.9 lb). On boulders or rocks either in river or near the river, A group of river otters is known as a romp. By entering your details, you are agreeing to Discover Wildlife terms and conditions and privacy policy. Type: Mammal Location: One of the widest distributions of a UK mammal species, the Eurasian Otter is found throughout Europe, eastern Russia and China, south and south east Asia and north Africa. Otters are carnivorous mustelids in the Lutrinae subfamily. Today though, otters have returned to most of their former haunts in Norfolk. Otters are fascinating animals as well as being adorable. We are a Devon-based charity dedicated to protecting and promoting a positive understanding of the European otter and its conservation.We want everyone to be able to engage with and appreciate these beautiful animals, and we work hard to raise awareness, educate, and share information in as many ways as possible! The invasive American mink also has five toes, but the pads are much narrower and the claws more pointed. While hunting and habitat loss played a part, pollution of our waterways from agricultural chemicals was devastating to otter populations. Scotland is the best place in the UK to see them and particularly on the coast, where they are generally more active during the day. They also eat crustaceans, frogs and even small water birds. On the Shetland Islands, some otters have been known to abandon fishing in favour of rabbit hunting. 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