Otter trio released back into the wild
Three otters cared for at the Scottish SPCA’s national wildlife rescue service at Fishcross have been released back into the wild.
The charity was able to release the trio – Eddy, Stream and Smoult – into a freshwater loch at a secret location on Woodland Trust property in the Highlands on October 19.
The Clackmannanshire centre had spent several months looking after the orphaned youngsters from when they were around eight to ten weeks old.
Staff hand reared the otters before they were introduced to each other.
Centre manager Colin Seddon said: “There are many factors that need to be met before we can release otters back into the wild; the weather, site location, otter population in the area and land owners’permission.
“All of these must be in place to ensure the best chance of survival.
“With help from the Woodland Trust we were able to access the remote release site in the Highlands in order to successfully release the otters. Without their help we would not have been able to access this site.
“Support feeding and shelter has been provided for Eddy, Stream and Smoult and they will be monitored using camera traps in the hope we will get some feedback about how well these otters are doing.
“This method was successfully used last year, at a release on Mull, and those otters are still doing well several months after their release.”
Colin advised that anyone who finds an otter cub calling for its mother should at first observe from a distance providing the cub is in a safe position.
He added:“If the mother does not return before dark then the cub will need to be brought into our care.
“If the cub appears in any way injured or ill please call our animal helpline immediately and contain the otter if possible.”
Anyone who discovers an injured or distressed wild animal should call the Scottish SPCA animal helpline on 03000 999 999.
Scotland’s animal welfare charity has cared for 105 otters since opening their Fishcross centre in 2012, 96 of which were cubs.