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June is a good time to go otter watching.  There's no guarantee you'll spot one, but there's worse things you could do than to sit quietly by the riverside on a warm sunny day.  Early morning or late evening will give you a fair chance of seeing one.  Be sure to take some mosquito repellant.

There was once a time when otters were present over most of the UK, but persecution, habitat loss and toxic chemicals in the water course led to a serious decline of the species.

Today the Otter is still scarce in many areas, but it is making a comeback thanks to the efforts of dedicated conservationists.  This is great news, but it doesn't make Otters any easier to spot.  They're still as elusive as ever.  Here are a few places where they've been seen recently:

Northern Ireland

Owenkillew River, Co. Tyrone
Upper Lough Erne, Co. Fermanagh

Scotland

Rum, Highland
Yell Sound Coast Shetland Islands
River Spey, Moray, Highlands

Wales

River Teifi, Pembrokeshire
River Tywi, Carmarthenshire
Cleddau Rivers, Pembrokeshire
River Wye, Monmouthshire
River Twymyn, Montgomeryshire

England

River Tweed, Northumberland (Scottish Borders)
River Derwent and Bassenthwaite Lake, Cumbria
The River Derwent, Cumbria
North Norfolk Coast, Norfolk
River Eden, Cumbria
River Lynher, Cornwall
River Camel, Cornwall


Know any good sites not listed here?  Let us know


More info at: Otters Fact File