Otters are living in the Cotswolds experts confirm (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Otters living in Cirencester, and other rivers throughout the Cotswolds

2:16pm Wednesday 1st April 2009 in News By Andy Woolfoot

SIGNS that otters are living in the River Churn have been discovered by Cotswold Water Park wildlife experts.

A monitoring programme has been tracking the creatures throughout the winter and found signs of spraint, otter droppings used to mark territory, along the bank of the River Churn leading up to the big Tesco store.

Further signs were discovered through South Cerney towards Cricklade.

Spraint was also found on the River Thames, from Poole Keynes to Lechlade, the Ampney Brook, Marston Meysey Brook, Swill Brook and the River Coln, from Quenington to Lechlade.

Dr Phoebe Carter, biodiversity field officer for CWPS, said: "This is great news for a species which suffered such a dramatic decline from the 1950s to the late 70s that it became listed as a European Protected Species and a UK Biodiversity Action Plan Species.

"The CWPS will continue to monitor the activity of the otter which is also one of the Cotswold Water Park’s Biodiversity Action Plan Species, looking for any expansion or contraction in its range across the park."

"This is great news for a species which suffered such a dramatic decline from the 1950s to the late 70s that it became listed as a European Protected Species and a UK Biodiversity Action Plan Species."

Dr Phoebe Carter, biodiversity field officer for Cotswold Water Park Society

Have you seen an otter? We want your pictures. Text WGSNEWS to 80360 or email them to wgsnews@wiltsglosstandard.co.uk