Otters blamed for pond raids (From Salisbury Journal)

Otters blamed for pond raids

12:00pm Sunday 8th January 2012 in New Forest News By Miranda Robertson

EVERY silver lining has a cloud, and what is great news for otters is causing a major headache for pond owners in Verwood, whose fish stocks are providing easy pickings.

Householders in the town have been complaining that the return of the furry fish-lover is causing their ponds to empty as the creatures, which have come back from near extinction, help themselves to ready meals.

Nicky Hoar from Dorset Wildlife Trust is urging pond owners to install high-tensile mesh to keep the mammals from filching their fish.

She said: “We’ve had reports of people having fish taken – ponds do represent an easy meal.

“But this is a huge success story for otters, as they were nearly wiped out in Dorset.

“They have come back from the brink of extinction because of fewer pesticides and the ban on hunting. There have also been improvements in water quality and bank side management.

“Now they are back in all catchments of Dorset, which is wonderful, however we have every sympathy for people who have fish taken.

“People can protect their fish by putting in strong, high-tensile mesh with holes no bigger than 75mm across. It must be strong, as otters are strong animals.

“Otters are protected and it is illegal to kill, keep, disturb or sell them.”

One of the trust’s otter spotters Clive Martin said: “This otter has discovered that breakfast, lunch and dinner is provided by us humans in the form of otter restaurants known to us as ponds.

“They leave behind them good evidence of their presence. One such clue is a territorial splodge known as a tar mark. This, together with a more solid form of poo known as a spraint, is simply irrefutable evidence of otter presence. The smell is unique.”