How to prevent otters predating fisheries and ponds. Droppings (spraints) and footprints are more likely to be seen than the actual animal. Otters are carnivorous animals and fish make up 80% of their diet. It depends on the species and whether they live in the wild or not. Their gestation period is 9 weeks and they can breed at any time of the year, although this usually occurs in spring. River otters and giant otters hunt by using their vibrissae to detect movements of prey in the water. Sea otters and also the African Clawless Otter have broad molar teeth for crushing shellfish whereas the teeth of the European otter are narrower for slicing through fish. on 03/10/2019. You can watch an otter eat an octopus in the above video. In the wild there are 13 different species of otter, and they’re found on all continents except Australia and Antarctica. The river otter food web plays a crucial role in the environments the river otter calls home. We talked to one of our trainers about what it’s like spending time with these two amazing creatures. This conservation success story is the result of both better legal protection for otters and the banning of the pesticides which poisoned them. What can visitors expect from their experience of otters at Blue Reef Aquarium? Mating occurs at any time of the year and females give birth to 2 – 3 cubs, usually between May and August. Shetland Otters. I have spent more time over the last two months in the company of wild otters than I have with other adult humans. Throughout the year. Otters are meat eaters. From the wild north coast to the sandy heaths of Breckland, the Norfolk Broads to ancient woodlands, Norfolk’s diverse habitats are home to a stunning variety of wildlife. The number of otters is increasing in Norfolk. An otter can roam 10kms in one night. Coastal otters in Shetland eat bottom-living species such as eelpout, rockling and butterfish. Otters like shallow water with plenty of fish. The Scottish population is estimated to be around 8000 otters. NWT Ranworth Broad and NWT Barton Broad are just two places where otters are regularly recorded in Norfolk. To stay warm in the water for so long, otters have incredibly thick fur, and very fast metabolisms, which means they need to eat a lot – 20% of their body weight per day, during certain months. “We can even use this to weigh them weekly by holding our fists over scales, getting them onto their hind legs to show us their underbellies or even to do some agility training over platforms to see how well their limbs are working. What sort of things have you trained them to do? Otters declined catastrophically throughout England in the late 1950s. Contributed by: David Jackson, Two otters nose to nose in the dyke Otters are well suited to a life on the water as they have webbed feet, dense fur to keep them warm, and can close their ears and nose when underwater. Thus, the sea otter is one of the very few mammals to make an effective use of tools (t… Volunteers play a very important part in the success of Norfolk Wildlife Trust and we really value their support and commitment. Despite their sleek bodies, these mammals can eat food amounting to as much as 25% of their body weight. Most otters can’t survive without access to fresh water. Their carnivorous diet is wide-ranging – Roger Cottis once watched an otter drag a conger eel from the sea and devour every inch of it, and if they had the choice, otters would probably dine exclusively on these highly nutritious delicacies. Otters are carnivorous animals and fish make up 80% of their diet. In some areas, this is a protected species, and some places have otter sanctuaries that help sick and injured otters to recover. Sea otters can live around 10-15 years, whereas Eurasian otters are lucky to reach 4-years-old in the wild. Sea otters have an ingenious method to open shellfish. 3. To see an otter in the wild demands not only being in the right place at the right time but also that you spot the otter before the otter spots you. Otters were released by the Otter Trust in Norfolk between 1984 and 1997 with the approval of the statutory conservation bodies existing at the time; there have been no releases since then (other than orphaned otters which are released by the RSPCA as close as possible to the location that they came from). What do otters eat? What do otters eat? However, when fish is scarce, they eat insects, frogs, birds and other mammals like rodents. Incredible Facts About This Amazing Animal, Junior Aquarist and VIP Behind the Scenes Experience, The Daily Routine of an Otter in the Wild, Meet the Otters at Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth. With the ability to smell concentrations of fish and their high metabolisms, otters spend most of their time hunting for their next meal. A large male may consume as much as 11 kg (25 lb.) What’s your favourite part about working with our otters? at NWT Hickling Most species have webbed feet, and all have long, sensitive whiskers and thick, water-repellent fur. Sea otters eat about 20-30% of their body weight each day. The primary diet of sea otters consists of aquatic invertebrates including crustaceans, sea urchins, mollusks and fish. However, due to the fur trade, illegal pet trade and problems with fishermen, the biggest predator of otters are actually humans. The types of them will depend on the season as well as where they happen to live. However, otters differ from similar species like beavers, muskrats, and nutria that feed on plants. Otters have their cubs in underground burrows, known as 'holts'. Your support helps us protect the future of that wildlife and helps us inspire people to value nature. Some other common items that they will … The body is dense, cylindrical, oblong, and the paws are short and strong. Otters living in zoos and aquariums are likely to live far past their average life span to almost double or triple years. What Do Otters Eat Regularly? They also eat crustaceans, frogs and even small water birds. They have webbed feet for swimming, dense fur for warmth, and can close their ears and nose underwater. From a conservation point of view, only the North American river otter is considered to be of ‘Least Concern’, and isn’t the focus of conservation. What is the real level of risk to your pond and can you do anything about it? They are carnivorous, and most species eat a variety of fish, amphibians, shellfish, crabs, and other aquatic creatures. Discover Norfolk's wildlife, from our majestic marsh harriers to stunning swallowtail butterflies. on 28/08/2018. The otter increase Otter numbers in the UK had dropped very low by the 1970s, partly due to the effects of certain pesticides. Otter at Strumpshaw Fen by Elizabeth Dack. 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