Get answers to all your otter questions, including whether they live in groups, where they can be found in the UK, and whether otters are a protected species, below.
What Are Otters?
Semi-aquatic relatives of the weasel family, otters are carnivorous, elusive and ever so cheeky mammals that live throughout the UK. Famed for their handholding and stone collecting, otters are not only a wild animal but a well-known symbol of love and family in popular culture.
Are Otters A Protected Species?
Yes, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 both protect otters in the UK. This means you cannot wilfully kill, injure, capture or disturb otters if you do not have the proper license.
Where Do Otters Live?
Otters can live all over the UK but are especially prevalent in the Southwest of England and Wales. Otters require clean freshwater as a habitat, so lakes, rivers and even canals provide them with an ideal environment. Coastal waters can be home to sea otters, too, as long as they have access to fresh water.
Do Otters Live in Groups?
The short answer is yes, otters do live in groups. But some are more likely to team up with other otters than others. For example, sea otters are known to be particularly social, living in groups of up to 12. They are polygynous, too, which means one male will mate with multiple females.
River otters, on the other hand, tend to be more solitary and live alone, pairing up only to mate or when a mother has her cubs to look after.
What is a Group of Otters Called?
There are many names for a group of otters, including a family and a raft. Raft relates to the behaviour that otters demonstrate when they all link up together to stop from getting lost when in the water.
From the information above, you can see that it’s quite possible that you could encounter a protected species like otters on your land. Unfortunately, because they can be pretty elusive, even in groups, it can be hard to know for sure if any works on your land will disturb or cause harm to this legally protected animal. In turn, this can create some significant issues for you, especially if you want to build or develop that land.
Fortunately, our Greenlight experts can help by conducting a variety of environmental surveys, including ones that identify and confirm the existence of any protected species on your land. Our thorough surveys, completed by licensed and experienced surveyors, will provide you with valuable information that will help you stay compliant with UK law, be environmentally responsible, avoid costly delays, and inform your design process.
Need help with an environmental or protected species survey? Then get in touch today for help with your next project.
