A hungry otter

This hungry otter moved in our pest control operations in Perth today. A customer had been losing hens at the hen run and had seen a fox in the grounds too, so they’d asked us to visit and do a pest control survey to see what could be done about it.

Whilst we were having a good look around the grounds we came across the otter in the picture. The otter was next to a pond and completely unaware of our presence. It was far too busy tucking into a dead pigeon it had found; otters are carnivorous so any meat like this makes a good meal. We watched it for a bit and then moved on, leaving it to finish its dinner.

The proper name for otters is Lutra lutra and they’re a protected species under Wildlife Legislation; under Schedule 2, Habitats Regulations 1994 (as amended in Scotland) and Schedule 6, Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. Otters needed protection because their numbers had declined a great deal in the 1900s but their population is back on the rise now. The River Tay is a very good habitat for otters and their population here has returned to a healthy and thriving level. We’re so lucky to have wildlife like this in Perthshire.