The Otter

The otter is a member of the weasel family and whilst there are no weasels present in Ireland, there are significant numbers of otters in isolated spots throughout the island.  During the 19th century it became fashionable to hunt otters with packs of otter hounds and the species generally went into decline, partly due to this persecution.  Game keepers and river keepers believed that otters took large numbers of trout and salmon and even nesting game birds.  Whilst this was undoubtedly true, the persecution far outweighed any damage otters did on game and fish stocks.

The animal is now afforded total protection in Ireland and in other parts of the British Isles.  At home in fresh water and in the sea, many young otters become entangled in fishermen’s lobster pot lines and creels and the instances of young otters being found drowned are on the increase. 

The otter's home is referred to as a "holt" and it is here the female raises several young, called "cubs" every spring.  The sign of a well managed and pollution free piece of waterway at the beginning of the 21st century is that of a healthy stock of otters along its length. 

A gregarious and a playful animal, the otter's popularity within the British countryside was much enhanced by the novels of Gavin Maxwell, particularly Ring of Bright Water that tells the story of a young couple in the Scottish Highlands and their life with Teko, a local otter.