Otters in Cheshire

Otters return to the rivers of Cheshire. 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.
At over one metre in length and about 10kg in weight, the otter is Britain’s largest carnivore.
With webbed feet, rudder-like tail and dense, water-resistant pelt, the otter is well equipped for swimming and hunting in water.
It feeds mainly on fish, requiring about 1kg of food a day.
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 Cheshire Wildlife Trust on 01948 820728.

Courtesy of the Cheshire Wildlife Trust.

WS - we belong to Cheshire WT so will be interested in this. I will give them a call/email.

Lai

Your welcome. I thought you'd mentioned CWT, and Otters on another thread, but I was'nt sure. I do'nt know how upto date the report is. I found it on the same site as the Gorillas, and thought it would interest you
WS

That really is good news and how lovely that you re right there Lai and can possible get involved. I love Otters and really enjoyed watching them in Spring watch, I think it ws Charlie Hamilton James tht reported on them.

They have Otters at the WWT in Sunderland or the one up that way, my bro-in-Law has some pictures of them, I will have to see if he can email me the pictures and I will post them.

Do let us know if you are ble to get involved/support them Li and thanks for the info WS

littlewid-x-

Will do - we're going to a Cheshire WWT event in September with SK speaking and hopefully a walk in Delamere Forest with them also in September so plenty of time to find out about the otters

Lai

Brilliant news! I must admit I love otters, though have never seen one in its natural habitat. Maybe one day I will if conservation groups continue their good works.

SM