Swan Injured, Your Comments?

[Vaughan]

2 hours ago, Baitrunner said:

just read a story of an otter in the USA atracking, killing and eating a 5ft alligator. I doubt a swan would pose a problem to that otter!!!

The European - or Eurasian - otter (Lutra Lutra) is very much smaller than the North American Otter (Lontra Canadensis) which, itself, can grow to 5ft long plus the tail. These are the ones that they used to trap for their pelts.

All the same, I take your point!

2 hours ago, Baitrunner said:

I'm not an otter hater, but otter predation will get worse until they do something about the numbers.

I think you and I may be proved right, and in quite a short time.

By the way, have we already forgotten Philip Wayre? A man of great influence in committees on the Broads in the 70s and 80s, largely because of his (dare I say mis-guided?) strength of character.

He it was who re-introduced the otter to the wild in England in the late 80s and 90s when they were extinct except in Scotland. His obituary is available on the Daily Telegraph website.

I repeat, I wonder what he would say now?

[Vaughan]

2 hours ago, Baitrunner said:

So will the rspb start to cull otters?

Sorry, I missed that one!

This is the "Sixty-four thousand Dollar question", isn't it?

[ZimbiIV]

Not only otters attack birds.

Here's the attack of the killer tortoise.

paul