Guest Posted July 6, 2019 Report Share Posted July 6, 2019 (edited) Almost certain that an Otter swam across the cut in front of me this morning (never have my camera when I need it.) If indeed it was an Otter, it is the first I have seen in 50 years on the cut. Are they more frequent now? It seemed almost tame. Edited July 6, 2019 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerra Posted July 6, 2019 Report Share Posted July 6, 2019 3 minutes ago, catweasel said: Almost certain that an Otter swam across the cut in front of me this morning (never have my camera when I need it.) If indeed it was an Otter, it is the first I have seen in 50 years on the cut. Are they more frequent now? It seemed almost tame. We have had Otters being seen in Kendal during the day and on one Lake living under a cafe and being seen by customers by looking over the wall so they seem to be getting less scared of people. I have seen an Otter on the cut a couple of years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUMPY Posted July 6, 2019 Report Share Posted July 6, 2019 Could have been a mink? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted July 6, 2019 Report Share Posted July 6, 2019 We have seen otters on the Land L but more often on such as the Oxford its mink we see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 6, 2019 Report Share Posted July 6, 2019 3 minutes ago, Loddon said: Could have been a mink? I did wonder. I have seen Mink sat under bridges; I swear one used to wave to us on the Trent and Mersey. 22 minutes ago, Jerra said: We have had Otters being seen in Kendal during the day and on one Lake living under a cafe and being seen by customers by looking over the wall so they seem to be getting less scared of people. I have seen an Otter on the cut a couple of years ago. Interesting; this was very near to houses so must be used to people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 6, 2019 Report Share Posted July 6, 2019 4 minutes ago, mrsmelly said: We have seen otters on the Land L but more often on such as the Oxford its mink we see. Good to know they are on the L&L Tim, I will be more Otter aware in future I do hope that they are increasing again after almost being wiped out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted July 6, 2019 Report Share Posted July 6, 2019 There are several locks on the Oxford where otter spraints can be found on the offside apron walls or around the bollards. Once you've had one pointed out to you (i.e. a little poo made of of bits of undigested crayfish claws and scales), they are instantly recognisable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerra Posted July 6, 2019 Report Share Posted July 6, 2019 11 minutes ago, catweasel said: Good to know they are on the L&L Tim, I will be more Otter aware in future I do hope that they are increasing again after almost being wiped out. Otter are getting very widespread and now found all over the country again. There has even been one seen (at night) on our housing estate). With regard to Mink V Otter. Mink 1 -1 .5 KG (for the dinosaurs 2-3.5 Lb) and overall length 58 - 67 cm (23 - 27 inches). Otter 7 -10 Kg (15 -22Lbs) Body length 57 - 70 cm (22 -28 inches) add a tail of 35 -40 cm (14 - 16 inches) giving an overall length of 90 -110 cm (36 - 44 inches). Those sizes should help you make up your mind what you saw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulJ Posted July 6, 2019 Report Share Posted July 6, 2019 If you watch a mink swimming you can see the whole body whereas an otter you more likely just see just the head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnmck Posted July 6, 2019 Report Share Posted July 6, 2019 Last summer, I saw my first Otter. Moored below the lock at Tewksbury, it was late evening. I was stood at the stern and watched a line of bubbles approach the stern. All of a sudden, a head popped up. I looked at him, he at me, then he was gone. Don't know who was more surprised. Then blow me, a few days on and up the Avon proper, saw a second. Magic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer McM Posted July 6, 2019 Report Share Posted July 6, 2019 On some of the lock landings on the Nene last year there were piles of fresh water mussel shells, believed to be the remains of otters dinners Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1agos Posted July 6, 2019 Report Share Posted July 6, 2019 A family of otters swam across the front of our boat on the Thames (the narrow bit before Port Meadow) in Oxford... a couple of years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted July 6, 2019 Report Share Posted July 6, 2019 I saw two sea otters yesterday.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Pegg Posted July 6, 2019 Report Share Posted July 6, 2019 As Jerra said above otters are now widespread again. I recall a thread about a colony at Napton or Calcutt or somewhere in that neck of the woods. There are otters living in the reed beds just outside Droitwich that sometimes make a visit to town, although I’ve only seen one once in Netherwich Basin and haven’t heard any reports of sightings for a while. JP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 6, 2019 Report Share Posted July 6, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Jerra said: Otter are getting very widespread and now found all over the country again. There has even been one seen (at night) on our housing estate). With regard to Mink V Otter. Mink 1 -1 .5 KG (for the dinosaurs 2-3.5 Lb) and overall length 58 - 67 cm (23 - 27 inches). Otter 7 -10 Kg (15 -22Lbs) Body length 57 - 70 cm (22 -28 inches) add a tail of 35 -40 cm (14 - 16 inches) giving an overall length of 90 -110 cm (36 - 44 inches). Those sizes should help you make up your mind what you saw. Reading this makes me think it was a Mink 1 hour ago, PaulJ said: If you watch a mink swimming you can see the whole body whereas an otter you more likely just see just the head. Again most likely a Mink. Oh well I'll see an Otter one day, and I've learned along the way. Edited July 6, 2019 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuscan Posted July 6, 2019 Report Share Posted July 6, 2019 Saw two otters running along the bank along the summit of the Leicester section last Wednesday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerra Posted July 6, 2019 Report Share Posted July 6, 2019 Back in May we got an Otter and Fox on the trail cam over night on the T & M (not both at the same time). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boaty Jo Posted July 7, 2019 Report Share Posted July 7, 2019 15 years ago on the Llangollen adjacent Whixall Moss came across an otter having breakfast on the tow path. Early morning, 5.30 or so. It scooted off when the dog paid an interest leaving a half-devoured fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted July 7, 2019 Report Share Posted July 7, 2019 4 hours ago, Boaty Jo said: 15 years ago on the Llangollen adjacent Whixall Moss came across an otter having breakfast on the tow path. Early morning, 5.30 or so. It scooted off when the dog paid an interest leaving a half-devoured fish. ... which the dog finished? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgreg Posted July 7, 2019 Report Share Posted July 7, 2019 14 hours ago, catweasel said: I did wonder. I have seen Mink sat under bridges; I swear one used to wave to us on the Trent and Mersey. Interesting; this was very near to houses so must be used to people. A few weeks ago a family of mink swam across the Trent and Mersey in front of me and, with amazing agility, the adult scrambled up the vertical stone edge then leaned over and dragged his/her three offspring up the edge one by one. It was fascinating sight which, typically, I didn't have my phone handy to film it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgreg Posted July 7, 2019 Report Share Posted July 7, 2019 A mink I spotted on a lock gate earlier this year on the Glasson Branch, Lancaster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon (Hawksmoor) Posted July 7, 2019 Report Share Posted July 7, 2019 We have an otter (or hopefully a pair) on the Basingstoke Canal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cuthound Posted July 7, 2019 Report Share Posted July 7, 2019 (edited) 20 hours ago, catweasel said: Almost certain that an Otter swam across the cut in front of me this morning (never have my camera when I need it.) If indeed it was an Otter, it is the first I have seen in 50 years on the cut. Are they more frequent now? It seemed almost tame. I saw a tame other when I passed through Hopwas on the Coventry Canal ? https://www.vintageinn.co.uk/restaurants/midlands/thetameotterhopwastamworth?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb Edited July 7, 2019 by cuthound To add the missing link 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tree monkey Posted July 7, 2019 Report Share Posted July 7, 2019 I'm fairly confident we have an otter that patrols our mooring, never seen it in person but regularly see fish remains and mussel shells on the bank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boaty Jo Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 18 hours ago, WotEver said: ... which the dog finished? ? The otter had eaten all the best bits which left our collie cross. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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