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Otters return to the rivers of Cheshire.28/10/2006 00:00:00 Cheshire Wildlife Trust is cautiously welcoming the return of otter populations to the region. Thanks in part to the conservation work undertaken by the Trust, otters are gradually appearing more frequently throughout Cheshire’s waterways. Evidence of the shy and endearing Eurasian Otter is now being found in areas where their presence has not been recorded for many years. Evidence is particularly strong along the main river catchments in Cheshire and Wirral, with the River Weaver around Nantwich, the River Gowy and the River Dee particularly active otter areas. Since 1994, much conservation effort in Cheshire has been directed at restoring otter populations. Between 1994 and 2001, as part of the Cheshire Wildlife Trust’s Otters and Rivers Project, extensive otter survey work was carried out as well the building of artificial otter holts at a number of sites along Cheshire’s waterways. Eurasian otter fast facts.
 The Trust are about to embark upon an innovative project to monitor otter activity using remote-controlled, infra-red video cameras, which will be installed on secure sites where recent signs of otters have been found. The project will also help to raise awareness of the otter, which is native to the UK and where it is afforded complete statutory protection due to its scarce status. Given the extremely secretive nature of otters, video footage obtained by the project will offer many more people the chance to see Cheshire otters up close and potentially online.
Angie Gooderham, Cheshire Wildlife Trust’s Acting Head of Conservation, comments, “It is vital that we continue to improve conditions for otters over the coming years, particularly if we want to see healthy breeding populations locally. The gradual return of the Otter shows us that with careful planning and an environmental commitment we can turn around the fortunes of our wildlife.” If you would like to get involved in otter conservation work in Cheshire or Wirral please contact Angie at Cheshire Wildlife Trust on 01270 610180. Courtesy of the Cheshire Wildlife Trust.
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Read the comments about this article and leave your own comment
Hello
Have you ever had otters in your garden before? I would personally be thrilled to have such wonderful and elusive creatures in my garden. However I can understand your frustration at their habit of feeding on your ornamental fish and destroying your pond.
Otters generally have a large home-range, dog otters will have a range that includes sections of river, ponds and land up to 50km whilst bitch otters will generally have a smaller range and may stay closer to water. An otter with cubs will often stay in an area with a readily available food source - such as your pond - until that food source is exhausted and then they will move on.
Have you thought about placing fencing around the pond? - a small electric fence may be worth thinking about or you can get specific otter fencing which I believe is a bit more expensive but could be worth thinking about as an investment.
If this is the first time you have experienced otters in your garden it could be taken as an encouraging sign that they are making a good comeback since nearly dying out in the 1970's due to the use of pesticides. A lot of work as gone into helping the otter to increase in numbers including making it a fully protected species.
It may also be worth considering what sort of ecological state the local river is in as this would usually be the otters main source of food, if it is in a bad state then it would encourage the otters to start to search for other food sources and I am afraid to say that fish in a pond would seem like an easy target.
Warm Wishes
Bridget
Posted by: Bridget Harvey | 06 Feb 2010 04:26:35 PM
Angie at Cheshire Wildlife Trust on 01270 610180
Hi Angie
We desperately want help please. Our newly relined pond, restocked with fish and plants; and soon to be home to many frogs has been visited by an otter, or otters, at least 5 times within the last month....and the pond has been "vandalized" (fish eaten, plants and stones overturned). The "poo" of the otter has been professionally identified.
The River Kent is 2 miles from our home (lower down the hill).
Our local Wildlife adviser has suggested that we do not restock our beautiful pond with fish for 18 months...however we are concerned about the conservation of frogs during Springtime 2010 that may be food for otter(s).
We believe that the otter(s) is(are) living very close to our pond. Although currently a pest within our garden - we do respect all wildlife and would value the opinion of an expert.
Yours sincerely (Catherine Magrath on behalf of my Dad) Stephen
Posted by: Catherine Magrath | 04 Dec 2009 08:16:41 PM