Otters were once widespread throughout the United Kingdom, but pollution and diminishing fish stocks in many rivers lead to a degradation of their habitat and caused a rapid decline in their numbers from the late 1950s onwards.

The only species of otter found in the UK is the European Otter (Lutra lutra), also known as the Eurasian River Otter, Common Otter or Old World Otter and can be found in and around fresh and salt water.

The UK otter population is now much improved, with otters again being recorded in places where they used to thrive. There are a number of contributory factors to this increase including improved river management, legislation to reduce industrial and agricultural pollution as well as hard work by the wildlife trusts and other organisations to restore and improve habitats.

Otters populations are dispersing far from their current strongholds in Scotland, Wales and south-west England. Sightings have also been recorded in the centre of major towns and cities, including Birmingham, Glasgow, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Doncaster.

Recently there have been otter sightings all over Cornwall, at all times of the day. The species is generally considered nocturnal. Kate Stokes, Water for Wildlife Manager at the Cornwall Wildlife Trust explains "Text books refer to otters as nocturnal, but they can be seen easily in Scotland during the day. Many people now see otters during the day in Cornwall too and we want to update the text books. For example otters are being seen along the Bude Canal, in the river at Wadebridge, running through the streets of St Ives, in the streams near Penzance, crossing the moors on the Lizard, on a boat in Truro and in garden ponds at St Austell!"

In November, 2003 otters returned to Surrey after almost 40 years.

The river network of the Trent has seen a bigger growth in Otter numbers than any other region in England.

The Worcestershire Wildlife Trust are working together with the WWF on a section of the River Avon to provide a suitable habitat for otters moving through the district.

If you are see an otter anywhere in the UK, dead or alive, please inform your local Wildlife Trust and fill in the Otter Sighting form on the International Otter Survival Fund (IOSF) website. Greenplaces would also like to hear about your Otter sightings, email us at newsdesk@greenplaces.co.uk