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European Otter

Lutra lutra

Not yet photographed by the community

Charismatic semi-aquatic predator of clean rivers.

Species Profile

Protected under UK law (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981). UK Red List: Least Concern; IUCN: Least Concern

Lifespan: 8–10 years in the wild, up to 15 years in captivity
Size & Weight: Body length 57–95 cm (including 35–45 cm tail); weight 7–12 kg
Habitat: Fast-flowing rivers, streams, and coastal waters with good water quality and adequate fish stocks, requiring undisturbed bankside vegetation and den sites.
UK Distribution: Widespread across Scotland, Wales, and south-west England; expanding range after near-extinction. Resident year-round in suitable habitats throughout the UK.
Diet: Primarily fish (trout, salmon, eels, and cyprinids), supplemented with crustaceans, amphibians, and occasionally small mammals and birds.
Prey: Fish (especially eels, brown trout, and salmon), freshwater crayfish, frogs, and occasionally water voles and ducklings
Predators: Adults have few natural predators; young are vulnerable to foxes, pine martens, and golden eagles; humans historically the main threat
Mating Season: December to March, with a peak in January–February
Breeding: Litter size 1–4 (average 2–3) kits; gestation 60–63 days; kits remain in den for 8–12 weeks; typically one litter per year
Behaviour: Solitary and primarily nocturnal, though increasingly active during daylight. Highly territorial with home ranges of 5–40 km depending on habitat productivity. Excellent swimmers using webbed feet and powerful tail; can hold breath for up to 4 minutes.

Did You Know?

•European otters were hunted to near-extinction in Britain by the 1970s due to habitat loss, pesticide pollution (especially PCBs), and persecution; recovery is a major conservation success
•They communicate using whistles, growls, and scent-marking with spraints (faeces) placed on prominent rocks and logs
•A single otter may travel 15–20 km in one night searching for food
•Their dense fur provides exceptional insulation, with approximately 50,000 hairs per square centimetre
•Otters have a metabolic rate 20% higher than other mammals of similar size, requiring them to eat 10–15% of their body weight daily

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