Hi, my name is Lottie and I’m a European Otter.
Welcome to this fact file where you can find out all sorts of interesting information about the European otter. You can also listen to the sounds that this animal makes and watch a video of it in its natural habitat.
Find out moreEuropean otter
Best feature
My powerful tail which helps make me very speedy and an agile swimmer.
Size
I measure between 1-1.3m in length and weigh approximately 7-9kg.
European otter
Favourite food
I generally eat eels and other fish but sometimes eat small mammals, frogs and crustaceans.
Home
Our homes are called ‘holts’ and can be found in dense scrub next to the water, in holes created by tree roots alongside the riverbank or in piles of loose logs.
European otter
Current population
Around 10,000 in the UK.
Biggest threat
Habitat loss due to the creation of canals, draining of wetlands and the removal of riverside vegetation.
That’s a fact!
Because I have large lungs and can slow down my heart rate, I am able to remain underwater for up to four minutes!
Listen
Listen to the sounds of a European otter.
Watch
Watch an otter in a video from our friends
at ARKive.
