Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) photograph by Wendy Jones
Otters in Cornwall
).
It may also be known as the European otter, river otter or common
otter. Its nicknames include king otter, river dog, ote and tike.
Otters are carnivores (meat-eaters) and belong to the family Mustelidae
(possessing musk glands). The family includes badgers, ferrets, martens,
mink, polecats, stoats and weasels. Mustelids typically have long,
thin bodies and short legs. Males are generally larger than the females.
The otter is a semi-aquatic mammal, which means it spends much of
its time in the water. It is well adapted for swimming with a long,
powerful, sinuous body and a long, tapering tail used for propulsion.
Its feet are quite large and are webbed for extra power. Its eyes are
placed high on the head so that it can see when the rest of the body
is below water. The nostrils and ears have valves, which can be closed
when submerged. Keeping warm is essential and the otter has a magnificent
fur coat, composed of two types of hair. Long guard hairs to repel
the water and an under-fur of fine, dense hairs to retain body heat.
Long, sensitive whiskers (vibrissae) are used to detect food in dark,
murky waters.
Eurasian
otter (Lutra lutra) photograph by Wendy Jones
Distribution:
The Eurasian otter is the most widely distributed of the otter species,
it can be found in parts of Europe, Asia and Africa, occurring in a
wide range of habitats close to water, including inland freshwater
and coastal areas.
Otter numbers in England declined dramatically in the late 1950s and
1960s. Pollution and the use of organochlorine pesticide chemicals
was the key issue, but habitat loss, hunting and disturbance were believed
to impact too. Cornwall (and Devon) has the highest population of otters
in England. In recognition of this the River Camel in north Cornwall
has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) primarily
for otters - making our otters of international importance. Otters
can be found on all the river catchments in Cornwall. They use the
rivers, streams, ditches, leats, canals, wetlands including the reedbeds,
moors, wet woodland and still-water bodies including reservoirs, lakes
and garden ponds.
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