Otters and river habitat management

Once widespread throughout Great Britain, the otter suffered a severe decline in numbers and distribution in the 1950s.

Otter populations are now recovering very gradually and it is possible to assist this recovery by ensuring the habitats favoured by otters and other wildlife are more widespread along rivers.

This handbook provides a brief summary of the natural history and current status of otters, an overview of the past decline of otter populations, a brief description of preferred habitats and more detailed practical suggestions for river management to encourage otters back to old haunts.