Home / Environment / Otter Cubs Delight Photographer on River Wansbeck
Otter Cubs Delight Photographer on River Wansbeck
10 Feb
Summary
- Two otter cubs were photographed playing on a shoreline.
- Regular otter sightings indicate a healthy local ecosystem.
- Otters communicate through vocalizations and spraint.
A photographer recently captured enchanting images of two otter cubs frolicking on the River Wansbeck shoreline in Northumberland. Niel Stafford described the experience as being "over the moon," considering it a significant honor to observe the young otters playing for an extended period. Stafford noted a notable increase in wildlife along the river, suggesting a thriving local environment.
According to the Wear Rivers Trust, regular sightings of otters are a positive sign of a healthy ecosystem. These fascinating creatures, known as Eurasian otters (Lutra Lutra), inhabit rivers, coastlines, and waterways throughout the UK. As apex predators, their diet includes fish, crabs, octopuses, amphibians, small mammals, and birds.
Otters possess a unique communication system, employing vocalizations such as whistles and twittering, alongside distinct scent markings from their spraint, or droppings. They typically raise their young in secure underground burrows called holts. The presence of these cubs highlights the ecological vitality of the River Wansbeck.
