Princess Pooper
Member
- Location
- East Mids
it's called nature and it finds a balance - we seem to manage it.Otters and water birds are not a good mix unfortunately. Well, not for the water birds anyway.
it's called nature and it finds a balance - we seem to manage it.Otters and water birds are not a good mix unfortunately. Well, not for the water birds anyway.
But there’s nothing natural about the British landscape. The mass release /reintroduction of Otters has caused massive damage to the aquatic environment. How utterly thoughtless to do this at a time when eels (their favourite prey) have suffered such a catastrophic decline in numbers. And the cost to fishing interests has been astronomical. It’s akin to the reintroduction of wolves. Yes, nature will find a balance, but at what cost to those trying to make a living in the countryside.it's called nature and it finds a balance - we seem to manage it.
Otters used to be widespread on our river 50 years ago, until the pesticides affected their ecology and it's nice to welcome them back. But we still have plenty of everything else. I do think they should be allowed to be controlled near fish farms etc and I am aware that some rivers have been adversely affected by their re-introduction, but that is not happening everywhere. I have been involved in conservation management work for decades and worked closely with gamekeepers and other land managers, so know that it's all DUE to management, but going back to my original point, planting a waterside site with a pollen / nectar mix that can go on any old cultivable land is a wasted opportunity for a decent riverside habitat.But there’s nothing natural about the British landscape. The mass release /reintroduction of Otters has caused massive damage to the aquatic environment. How utterly thoughtless to do this at a time when eels (their favourite prey) have suffered such a catastrophic decline in numbers. And the cost to fishing interests has been astronomical. It’s akin to the reintroduction of wolves. Yes, nature will find a balance, but at what cost to those trying to make a living in the countryside.
No.Has the Sandmarten home attracted any occupants yet?
Partly down to disturbance of mink and partly to habitat. The main cause of their loss, by far, has been the mink released by animal rights activists in the 1970's and 1980's. I know of one piece of local river where over 100 mink were killed from 1 trap in 12 months.That’s interesting. Do you think it’s because there just isn’t enough cover for mink?
Absolutely; there’s no reverse gear with these things, that’s the problem. Otters were hunted up till quite recently, for good reason. It’s all well and good releasing beavers, wolves etc, but there needs to be a plan for when things go wrong and people’s livelihoods are being damaged.Otters will be the next badger. They will do very well and there will be far to many of them for the good of everything else and even to the detriment of themselves when they start running out of food. But no one will be allowed to do anything about it because they will be very heavily protected. Just like badgers now look at what they are doing to hedgehogs, ground nesting birds and bumble bees. Let alone the mess of TB (which is as bad for the badgers as the cattle) otters might not get TB but they will wipe out the wildlife on the rivers if there are too many of them. Neither of them are meant to be top predators in their respective ecosystems they need controlling if it gets out of hand. I doubt we are there yet with otters though.
I have no personal experience of Otters (they died out in Hertfordshire in 1977) but I was repeatedly told by specialists when I worked for the EA that Otters are quite territorial. Apparently a it would take around 5 miles of a healthy river for one otter family. In a poorly stocked river the territory could be 25 miles or more.Otters will be the next badger. They will do very well and there will be far to many of them for the good of everything else and even to the detriment of themselves when they start running out of food. But no one will be allowed to do anything about it because they will be very heavily protected. Just like badgers now look at what they are doing to hedgehogs, ground nesting birds and bumble bees. Let alone the mess of TB (which is as bad for the badgers as the cattle) otters might not get TB but they will wipe out the wildlife on the rivers if there are too many of them. Neither of them are meant to be top predators in their respective ecosystems they need controlling if it gets out of hand. I doubt we are there yet with otters though.
We have many nightingales.
I took a friend to hear them the other night, one was in a bush 60 yards away going for it.
I played a nightingale call on my phone, at first he shouted louder, then he stopped. Distressed that I had frightened him away I turned off the recording.
Next thing he starts rattling away again but this time in the bush barely a yard from us going for it with even more gusto.
Harmless country fun but fun nevertheless.
I have no personal experience of Otters (they died out in Hertfordshire in 1977) but I was repeatedly told by specialists when I worked for the EA that Otters are quite territorial. Apparently a it would take around 5 miles of a healthy river for one otter family. In a poorly stocked river the territory could be 25 miles or more.
Beavers and Mink on the other hand......
But when there is too many of them to fit in every stretch of river what happens then? I'm not sure what an otters natural predator would be... Bears maybe?I have no personal experience of Otters (they died out in Hertfordshire in 1977) but I was repeatedly told by specialists when I worked for the EA that Otters are quite territorial. Apparently a it would take around 5 miles of a healthy river for one otter family. In a poorly stocked river the territory could be 25 miles or more.
Beavers and Mink on the other hand......
I have no personal experience of Otters (they died out in Hertfordshire in 1977) but I was repeatedly told by specialists when I worked for the EA that Otters are quite territorial. Apparently a it would take around 5 miles of a healthy river for one otter family. In a poorly stocked river the territory could be 25 miles or more.
Beavers and Mink on the other hand......
But when there is too many of them to fit in every stretch of river what happens then? I'm not sure what an otters natural predator would be... Bears maybe?
I have no issues with otters being released and reintroduced on any and every river if it's healthy enough to support them but eventually they will cause problems somewhere for someone or something and no one will be able to do anything about it.
I bet no one expected badgers to be such a problem when they were given protection all those years ago.
You really need some otters down in Hertfordshire apparently they are really good for killing mink
They would probably eat beaver cubs too
You're probably correct. Otters are Mink on steroids!I think that the otters are eating the water voles here.
Yes. Otters have a place here though mink most definitely don't! Wouldn't want anyone to think I just wanted to kill all the otters because I definitely don't. Mink on the other handYou're probably correct. Otters are Mink on steroids!