Not-so-shy otter is making a splash in Bridgnorth
They are usually known as secretive animals who only come out at night to eat – but one otter has been making a real splash in Bridgnorth.
The animal has been spotted twice this week along the banks of the River Severn near Southwell Riverside.
The otter was pictured by Harry Kerridge while walking on Monday lunchtime.
Harry then spotted the semi-aquatic mammal again on Tuesday.
"The otter was repeatedly diving, trying to catch fish and eventually caught one," he said. It started to eat it as the current carried him downriver towards the old bridge."
Otter numbers plummeted due to an increased use of pesticides but their numbers are beginning to rise again.
John Hughes, development manager at the Shropshire Wildlife Trust, said it was incredibly rare to see an otter in broad daylight.
"Most of the otters that are reported to us are usually dead because when they venture that close to public areas they are run over by cars," he said.
"It's quite interesting one's been spotted because clearly Bridgnorth has a bit of a show-off.
"We had exactly the same thing in Shrewsbury when a family of three otters were seen by English Bridge on a daily basis just before Christmas.
"Otters are usually very secretive animals and tend to come out only at night."
Mr Hughes said otters were usually tracked through their excrement, called spraint, which they use to mark their territory.
"Their numbers were very low because of the use of pesticides and although their numbers are far from high they have made a comeback," he said.
"Finding them is still a bit of a lottery.
"You can go out looking for them but the chances of actually seeing one are pretty poor.
"It's fantastic they are being spotted in Bridgnorth."
Otters are inquisitive, playful and intelligent, often appearing to take childlike enjoyment in sliding around on muddy banks or in snow.
They live in holts around water edges and bubbles of air trapped in their fur give them a silvery appearance underwater.
The male otter is called a dog and the female a bitch. They have large lungs and can stay submerged under water for four minutes, often swimming 400 metres before resurfacing.
