Stewchat...

I found this comment on my previous post very interesting and thought it deserved to go up front...

'Looking at the photo [ of the Otter], it's hard to tell, but it does look in good condition (although dead, I know what you're going to say :-). As previous comment the recent storms may have damaged it. It's equally likely it may have become detached from the family group and perished through difficult feeding conditions (cubs can not dive well). Also Eurasian otters living in the sea need fresh water to bathe in to maintain their sub coat, thus boyancy and tempurature regulation would have been subdued if it couldn't find any. Sad, but when I studied Northumberland Otters in the mid 1980's estimates were down to 1 male and 2 females across the whole county. Seeing them return is a joy - Border Riever..'

Only 3 Otters county wide in the 80's! In those days Water Voles were every 50 yards in rivers, ditches and streams across the county. Shows how things can have both ups and downs in a short space of time...

I think BR is probably right in his 'post mortem' decision.

Cheers, Stewart....