THE RETURN OF THE OTTER
TO THE MIDDLE REACHES OF THE RIVER LARK

1997 saw the welcome return of otters (Lutra lutra) to our local stretch of the river Lark after an absence of over 30 years. Their appearance follows the release of a pair of otters downstream several years ago, and it seems likely that these animals, or perhaps their progeny, are re-colonising suitable new habitats.

Otter Fresh spraints and a half-eaten fish were the first signs that these elusive creatures had returned; this was followed by the first sighting of two otters in May. The two animals, a male and a female, were subsequently seen on many occasions during May and June, sometimes appearing well before dusk and giving superb views as they played and hunted. A variety of prey was taken including signal crayfish (Pastifasticus lenuisculus) and eels (Anguilla anguilla). There was also quite a lot of interaction between the pair, and on one occasion they appeared to copulate. It therefore came as a quite a surprise when two weeks later the female was seen accompanied by three cubs. They were about three months old and may well have been on their first excursion along the river, as they seemed uneasy in the water and called continuously. The sighting coincided with a period of heavy rainfall and it is quite possible that their holt had been flooded out as the water-levels rose.

The family group were subsequently seen on three occasions around mid-June, but then events took an unfortunate turn when a weak, emaciated cub was found at a local nature reserve. The cub, a male, was still being weaned and apparently had been separated from his family during a second period of heavy rainfall towards the end of the month. He was taken to the RSPCA where he recovered well and was returned to the wild. Naturally, there was some concern about the welfare of the other cubs after this incident, especially as the mother was observed on her own a few times and but eventually she was seen with her two remaining cubs.

Following this series of events the otters became much more secretive in their behaviour, single animals were seen on a few dates in 1998 but breeding was not proven. It has been a similar pattern this year, however, two were recently seen together, so hopefully they may breed again soon.

Chris Gregory