Conservation Status: Endangered
Hertfordshire: Wild otters became extinct in Hertfordshire in late 1970s and were re-introduced in 1991/92 by the Otter Trust. Since then they have been monitored by the Wildlife Trust and Mammal Group. They have probably bred in Hertfordshire and currently mainly use the lower Lea and the Stort.
Protection: Protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981) and is listed on the EC Habitats Directive (Annex IIa,IVa) and the Bern Convention (Appendix II).
General Information: A secretive, nocturnal semi-aquatic carnivore. Fish are their most important food. They will take coarse fish, eels and salmonids depending on what is present. A good indication of the presence of otters is the discovery of their spraints. They can travel over large areas of river habitat. Their holts can be in a tree root system, a hole in the bank, in dense reed beds or under a pile of logs/rocks. They can live up to 10 years although few survive over 6 years.
Threats: Pollution of rivers and insufficient food. Otters are highly selective in their choice of habitat. Habitat loss has meant there are fewer suitable bankside features needed for breeding and resting. Road casualties (two recorded in Hertfordshire).
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