Otters

Tue 2 Apr 2019, 12:50

I've received this today from BBOWT.

Morning Jenny

As water voles have recently been recorded nearby, we do co-ordinate a mink raft on the Mill Stream as part of our water vole conservation work. The raft is on private land and is monitored by the homeowner. Great news that you’ve…

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Mon 25 Mar 2019, 13:12

This is the relevant bit of an email received this morning from Stuart Manwaring, local Environment Agency Fisheries Officer.

BBOWT have a mink raft (not trap) somewhere on the upper channel, perhaps not far from the canoe club. Otter guards are used to ensure only mink are able to access the raft. If there are any concerns then do get in touch with BBOWT.

To be 100% sure, I will contact BBOWT (Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust) but it seems the otters are not in danger of becoming trapped.

Wed 20 Mar 2019, 10:06

Might be a red herring.

Tue 19 Mar 2019, 18:06

I've had this response from Pete Walker  (Cotswold Rivers Trust). I'll follow up with Stuart Manwaring (Environment Agency) and post here.

Hi Jenny,

That's fantastic news about the otters. The Cotswold Rivers Trust don't have any mink traps out so I'm not sure where that information has come from sorry. I've copied in Stuart Manwaring, an EA fisheries officer for that area, to see if he can shed any light.

Stuart - any thoughts / insight?

Thanks

Pete

Tue 19 Mar 2019, 15:20

Somewhat reassuring Alan, thanks for that. Fingers crossed that a safe solution can be found.

Tue 19 Mar 2019, 12:32

Any trap they may have has to be a live trap and has to be inspected at least once a day (preferably twice).  They would get into serious trouble if they drowned a Water Vole.

Tue 19 Mar 2019, 09:22

Thank you so much Jenny for your concern for these rare and wonderful creatures. I hope that you will get a speedy response from the Cotswold River Trust folk. I've never seen otters yet, but  hope to soon, and to imagine that they could be trapped and presumably drowned is awful.

Tue 19 Mar 2019, 08:05

I've found a contact for the Cotswolds River Trust. This is the text of my email to a Dr Pete Walker:

We have been seeing a family (one adult and two youngsters) of otters on the Evenlode in the Charlbury area. We believe that there is a mink trap somewhere on the millstream and local people are worried that the otters are at risk of becoming trapped.

We understand from a local Environment Agency rep that the Cotswolds River Trust monitor the trap. Can you confirm if that is so? If so, can you say how frequently it is checked?

I will post again here any response I get.

Mon 18 Mar 2019, 09:57

How lovely to hear about the otters..... but worried about the mink trap catching them..... what would we do if in the worst case we saw a trapped otter? 

Wed 13 Mar 2019, 14:06

I was wondering about whose responsibility the traps might be and whether they're still needed. Could Stephen or Russell say exactly where they are so people can keep an eye on them? 

Wed 13 Mar 2019, 13:55

I believe the traps are monitored by the Cotswold River Trust as part of a joint project of habitat recreation with the Environment Agency

Tue 12 Mar 2019, 09:58

Given that they are clearly active, I trust someone is regularly checking the (live) floating mink trap on the Mill stream, as Otters need to be released if they trigger the trap and get caught.

Mon 11 Mar 2019, 09:08

Lovely talk by Tony on Friday, thanks - and otter sighting confirmed yesterday evening, probably the same 3 bowling downstream past Mill Lane!  Hope they get going on the Signal crayfish which I suspect are doing a lot of damage....

Mon 11 Mar 2019, 07:54

Thanks Simon, that's wonderful news! I haven't seen otters in the Evenlode, or any since childhood in North Devon. I'll keep my eyes peeled for the family you saw.

Sun 10 Mar 2019, 21:24 (last edited on Sun 10 Mar 2019, 21:26)

This is indeed really great news.  As I said in my talk on Friday the Evenlode has many challenges to water quality but its good to know that has not deterred these determined otters.  We must do all we can to make them welcome!

Sun 10 Mar 2019, 15:36

That's fantastic.  Otters have been recorded there before - it's in the biodiversity report produced for the neighbourhood plan if of interest - but those sitings date back to 2008.  Great to know they are still about.

Sun 10 Mar 2019, 11:30

On Friday morning I saw three otters in the river, just by the Cornbury bridge.  One adult and two smaller ones.  I for one have never seen any in the river here before, so it's great to know that conditions in the Evenlode are good enough for them.