narrowboatworld

Who amongst us has ever seen an Otter in the wild?

Who has seen an Otter in or around a man made waterway?

The chances are you will not have. Around 12% (1,000) of all Otters in the UK which total 8,000 are to be found in Shetland. They do not like polluted waters, nor still water. They are especially shy of humans. They are a 'near' threatened species, and are extinct in several European countries.

The close relative the Mink, can be a nuisance where they occur, though are on the decline as has been the Otter. The re-introduction is a reaction to a natural decline in Otter numbers, mankind and his activities being one major enemy. The chances of them being any kind of threat to the structural integrity of man made waterways is barely worth considering given their natural habitats are fresh water rivers and the Sea. They thrive on solitude and being left well alone.

Some research into a subject might prevent more 'threats' to our cherished existence on this planet.  Like the screams for CO2 cut backs, it's a natural air born trace gas that gives life to all plants - it makes more food grow! What effect it has on temperature is insignificant and widely misunderstood. Ignorance is the breeding ground of greed.

Derek Reynolds.

Otters don't like dirty still water, noise, boats or people. I imagine it's unlikely that they will be destroying any canal banks. If they dig holes in banks that collapse, then they will not get very far as a species, as they and their babies will not live to repeat that mistake.

I don't know why some people don't just go out and shoot any and everything that swims, digs, flies, squeaks or breathes,  or brings a bit of a change about, there's something wrong with every fish, duck, bird insect and animal that walks this earth. 

These posts sound like the reports that HIV Aids would more or less wipe out the population of the planet, then swine 'flu coming along to decimate us all, now, along with the dreaded Water Vole,  the Otter threat, whatever next.

I think you are a miserable lot.

 P.S. please don't feed the beavers, they need to keep their teeth sharp on trees.

And don't stare at the hippopotomuses, it makes them feel threatened.

Tarka

I wrote the article concerning otters not only from research but having had some experience of them, and can assure you that rather than decimate the zander they would be more likely help it in drastically reducing fish stocks.

And can assure Simmar that 'burrows' by such as tench and carp hold no comparison with those of otters, who are not satisfied with a single 'home', but multiple burrows.

I am not against otters in our rivers, but surely the sensible thing would be for the naturalists to introduce them to the many non-navigable rivers,  not such as the Soar with its many canalised sections, where it could do so much damage.  But of course, sense doesn't seem to enter into their decisions.

Let's hope that this time British Waterways does not timidly support the naturalists as it normally does, but has the sense to oppose introduction of the otter to its waterways, though I won't hold my breath.

James Henry

I can appreciate in the wild that otters do bury into banks etc however as these otters have been reintroduced on the river one would assume that people releasing them if the are part of a catptive breeding programme have also build shelters for them so that they can re-establish themselves and are also monitoring the otters.

 I agree that is would be nice to otters on the water ways and hopefully they will do something towards reducing the number of zander in our water ways. that are overtaking our native fish.

 As for maintenance of banks i can also appreciate that damage can be caused by otters burrows, but then there are species of fish that bury into the banks like tench and carp and cause just as much damage.

One would hope that there is funds in place to help support and maintain a balance for all to enjoy the waterways and provide more opportunities for generations to see otters in the wild be it through support from wildlife programmes to help BW keep a high standard of bank maintenance for all.

Without the support it will only be a matter of time before the otters are seen to be a problem because of damage and costs to maintain banks so lets hope that wildlife programmes and BW can work together to stop this happening.

You'll get a soar head worrying about nature!

Should all wildlife be culled in defense of a navigational bank? Whilst that has not been suggested, it might be remembered that the Soar in essence is a natural river. It is only mankind who has come along and devised methods of 'training' nature to his whims and fancies, only to get upset when nature revives.

Derek.