Motherly love on display as young otter gets taught the ropes
Added: 2nd February 2012
Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) has captured some of its best footage yet of visiting otters at the charity’s Exeter headquarters.
Otters have been recorded visiting the mill for the past three years but this new video is the most intimate yet. The minute long film shows a mother otter with its young cub. In the touching footage Mum helps her youngster safely explore Mill’s waterwheel and sluice gate.
The film was recorded using camera equipment installed thanks to funding by Viridor Credits Environmental Company. It was captured using motion sensors at 3:50am on 31 Jan 2012.
DWT’s Stephen Hussey said: ‘Otter cubs have a lot to learn from mum before they can survive on their own and this new infrared footage shows how utterly dependent they are. In the film mum takes her cub by the scruff of the neck, hauls it up the waterwheel, before letting it explore the inside of the building. It’s something that generations of otters have probably done since the leat was constructed in the 11th century, but for this young otter it looks as if this is its first visit.’
Steve added: “It’s difficult to know how old this young otter is but we think it may be aged around four to six months. It’s a wonderful sight and proof that otters are well established in the centre of the City. Devon Wildlife Trust’s Cricklepit Mill must now be one of the best places to see otter in the county.”
To see the stunning footage visit the charity’s website at http://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/webcams/
The charity is now setting up a hide in the grounds of Cricklepit Mill so the public can visit and see if they can catch a glimpse of these amazing mammals over the coming months.