Otter charity acquires meadow for rehabilitation

The UK Wild Otter Trust, based in North Devon, has successfully acquired a 4-acre wildflower meadow to enhance its efforts in rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing Eurasian otter cubs. 

This acquisition comes as the charity has seen a significant rise in the number of orphaned and abandoned cubs, prompting the need for additional space to provide optimal care and increase their chances of survival in the wild.

So far this year, the charity has rescued 28 otters and has successfully rehabilitated and released over 150 otters since its inception in 2016. 

ABOVE: New land the trust has acquired 

The new land will allow the charity to expand its facilities, including the construction of 50 enclosures at the combined sites, solidifying its position as a leading facility for otter care in the UK. 

With this increased capacity, the charity aims to offer support to otter cubs from across England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.

Despite research indicating that otter populations are recovering from past human impacts, the charity's founder, Dave Webb, highlights new threats contributing to the abandonment and displacement of cubs. 

He said: “Flooding, pollution, habitat loss due to building and road traffic incidents - often as they navigate new routes caused by flooding - are the main reasons we see the numbers of otter cubs in need of urgent care rising steadily. Cubs spend 12 months with us on average from rescue to release - so the need for more space to treat these otters was imperative.”

The new 4-acre meadow, located less than seven miles from the charity’s original home, will serve as a sister site. 

Dave elaborated on the future plans for the area, stating: “Not only will the site eventually be home to more infrastructure such as a second otter hospital to directly care for the rescued cubs, but the site as a whole will promote our sustainability and biodiversity-led ethos by maintaining the existing wildflower meadow, creating a wildlife pond, and planting 500 native trees.”

Development of the new site is set to begin in the coming weeks as part of a two-year plan, with the charity aiming to have the facilities operational by early next year.