Weymouth nature reserve gives otters a helping hand (From Dorset Echo)

Weymouth nature reserve gives otters a helping hand

4:00pm Thursday 18th March 2010 in

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NEW arrivals at a wildlife reserve are being made to feel right at home.

Otters are being seen at the RSPB’s Weymouth Wetlands reserve at Radipole for the first time in decades and there is evidence they have started to breed.

With that in mind staff wanted to make the animals as comfortable as possible in the hope they will make the site their permanent home.

So an otter holt has been built at a secret location on the reserve.

The holt was built by staff at the Environment Agency who had been looking for a conservation project to work on for a community programme.

Reserve sites manager Nick Tomlinson thanked the team for their efforts and hopes the work will persuade the otters to remain at Radipole.

Otters were in decline in Dorset about 30 years ago due to persecution and loss of habitat. Since then they have made a steady recovery and were known to be on every major river system in Dorset except the River Wey, which runs through the reserve.

An otter was first spotted on the site in 2001 but now they are being seen more frequently – and secret cameras have recorded two youngsters, which indicates the otters are breeding.

Experts believe the otters’ return is because of natural expansion and the fact there are plenty of small fish and eels to eat.

Another factor is the fact that work has been undertaken at Radipole to revitalise the reedbeds by creating a diverse range of habitats to encourage as many different species as possible to breed.

Mr Tomlinson said: “The holt consists of a underground chamber with secure access to the water. It’s an artificial version of their natural home which tends to be under trees on the riverbank.

“The thinking is that if we can give the otters a safe and secure place where they feel comfortable, the better chances there are for the otters to breed.

“It’s basically lending the otters a helping hand.”