WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND AN OTTER
If you’ve discovered an otter in the wild – especially a cub – please don’t pick it up or try to care for it yourself. Many well-meaning people assume a young otter is abandoned, but mothers often leave their cubs for several hours while they forage. Acting too soon can do more harm than good.
Call us first
It’s time-critical to get the animal the right help and the first few hours can mean the difference between life and death.
Please call UKWOT immediately – we’ll ask a few quick questions to assess the situation and give you expert advice.
If necessary, we’ll arrange for the cub to be safely collected and taken to a specialist rehabilitation centre. These facilities are fully equipped to provide the medical care, diet, and environment young otters need to survive and thrive.
Why can't I look after the otter myself?
As tempting as it may be to care for an orphaned otter yourself, they require highly specialist support that can only be provided in dedicated centres.
Rehabilitation usually takes about a year, after which otters are released back into the wild, fully fit and ready to thrive. Release is done in line with proven protocols and includes ongoing monitoring to ensure the best chance of survival.
Otters are a protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Improper handling or care could be not only dangerous – but also illegal.
By contacting us and following this advice, you’re playing a critical role in helping a vulnerable species survive. Every call, every cub saved, is a step toward a healthier wild otter population in the UK.
Thank you.
What to do if you find a dead otter
Should you be unfortunate enough to find a dead otter in England, Scotland or Wales, it’s important that it’s collected and sent to the Otter Project at Cardiff University for postmortem examination. This provides us with valuable insight into the species’ health and biology. Postmortems are not currently performed on otters found dead in Northern Ireland on a routine basis, but all sightings can be reported to the NI National Biological Recording Centre, known as CEDaR. Please also report any wildlife casualties across the UK to Project Splatter, and any otter sightings – dead or alive – to your local otter group, as they may be monitoring the population in your area.
If you find a dead otter, no matter its condition, please call the Environment Agency in your area in the first instance, so they can quickly arrange to collect and transport the body: the relevant numbers are listed below. If possible, provide the grid reference of location found by using this link: http://gridreferencefinder.com (please don’t worry if you’re unable to do this – just let us know and we’ll help you). Include the date and time found, and your name, address and contact details.
England
Call the Environment Agency
03708 506506
Wales
Call Natural Resources Wales
0800 807060
Scotland
Call the International Otter Survival Fund
01471 822487
