Taxonomic information
Common Name: European Otter
Latin Name: Lutra lutra
Family: Mustelidae
Description
OtterOtters were widespread across many areas of the country before river pollution and habitat loss caused significant population declines. Recent improvements in water quality have led to an increase in fish stocks and riverside habitat improvements have provided undisturbed breeding sites suitable for otters. As a result otter populations have increased. Although holes in river banks are often used by otters, breeding sites or holts may also be situated under tree roots, fallen trees or under rocks and may be some distance away from a river or stream.
A similar population recovery has also occurred in the Dales with a slow increase in otter reports in recent years. Inland, otters are usually nocturnal and so sightings are particularly rare, especially when the population is at a low density. In order to determine whether otters are present it is necessary to look for spraints (droppings), which they use to mark out their territory. These are usually found at prominent places such as under bridges or on large stones and with practice can be separated from mink spraints which are very similar.
In recent years there has been an increase in the number of otter spraints reported along many of the rivers in the National Park. It would appear that although virtually unseen, otters are slowly spreading back into the Dales to re-colonise many formerly occupied watercourses.
