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Otter
Nov 19, 2006 12:25:45 GMT
Post by messer on Nov 19, 2006 12:25:45 GMT
Had another chance encounter with an Otter last night, second one in a week. I would have killed for a camera. I saw him from about 15 yds away (was a dog by the way, Im guessing around 4 ft long). I had him startled on full beam with the head torch and walked straight up to him, he was sat at my feet for 30 seconds or more ( this will sound unbelievable but its true), I was carrying a brush at the time and I poked him with the shaft, he then calm as you like walked down the bank and dropped into one of the stock ponds at work. I kept the torch on him for a good 3 or 4 mins which must have dissorientated him slightly as he was just swimming round and round in circles. He then climbed out of the water and came and sat at my feet again. I lifted him off the ground with the brush shaft again and nudged him back into the water. I then took the light off him for a second, he then realised where he was found his slide where he normally enters the farm and shot off like a bat out of hell under the fence and away. The incident probably lasted 5 or 6 mins and left me totally memerised. Messer
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Otter
Nov 19, 2006 12:34:38 GMT
Post by Finny on Nov 19, 2006 12:34:38 GMT
Wish I had been there, I would love to see one in the wild. ;D
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Otter
Nov 19, 2006 12:37:41 GMT
Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2006 12:37:41 GMT
WOW.......Would have luvved to have seen this one....
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Otter
Nov 19, 2006 17:42:57 GMT
Post by tommy1 on Nov 19, 2006 17:42:57 GMT
an encounter like that, is a once in a lifetime happening, a few years back i was just sat down in my allotment, having a rest, when a weasel appeared about 30ft away, he started doing allsorts of acrobatics and somersaults, all the time getting nearer and nearer to me, when he was no more than 6ft away from me, a car horn sounded and he was away, i'll never forget it.
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Otter
Nov 19, 2006 17:53:21 GMT
Post by BOF on Nov 19, 2006 17:53:21 GMT
Hi Messer, you have probably come across one of the reintroduced Otters. As plainly he didn't react normally to your human smell. Wonderful for you to see him that close etc., but it must be a nightmare for your boss to have almost a resident predator. BOF
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Otter
Nov 19, 2006 18:20:10 GMT
Post by Bluey on Nov 19, 2006 18:20:10 GMT
An exceptional encounter! I remember fishing on the Nidd with BOF and Pecker a couple of years ago. Pecker had just put back a nice barbel, BOF returned to his peg and Pecker and I were sat nattering at Peckers peg. Suddenly I heard a rustling behind me, I turned just in time to see the rear end of an otter scurrying up the banking and disappearing into the bushes. It was the first time I had seen one in the flesh and have to say I felt good about spotting one. To watch one for 3 or 4 mins is quite exceptional. I think you'l remember it for some time Messer.
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Otter
Nov 20, 2006 11:07:03 GMT
Post by messer on Nov 20, 2006 11:07:03 GMT
Bof- I think your right, Im led to believe that a couple have been released every year since the early nineties in Ryedale, Ive seen possibly a dozen or more in the last 2 or 3 years, though obviously some will be re-sightings
Messer
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Otter
Nov 20, 2006 12:28:25 GMT
Post by JMallett on Nov 20, 2006 12:28:25 GMT
an encounter like that, is a once in a lifetime happening. I used to think the same Tommy1, that is until over the last few years I have lost count of the number of times I have seen otters. There are several on the Nidd at Cowthorpe, I saw one last week at Pool on the Wharfe and I have seen several on the Swale. There was a spell back in summertime where I saw one every time I went down the river! As far as I am concerned the otter is making a glorious comeback. You wait, a few years and we will all be moaning that otters are eating our fish stocks!!
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herb
Full Member
Posts: 249
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Otter
Nov 20, 2006 12:32:03 GMT
Post by herb on Nov 20, 2006 12:32:03 GMT
Otters seem to be doing well at the moment.
There have been several sightings of them on the Aire in Rodley (I volunteer on a nature reserve there), we even have some casts of footprints taken from underneath the bridge.
Unfortunately, there are also Mink seen occasionally.
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Otter
Nov 20, 2006 12:38:44 GMT
Post by JMallett on Nov 20, 2006 12:38:44 GMT
Agreed, I have seen mink too which a lot of folk do mistake for otters, however I have only seen 1 mink this year as opposed to plenty of otters. Perhaps I have seen the same one(s) several times but its no longer a rarity to do so.
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Otter
Nov 20, 2006 12:48:16 GMT
Post by messer on Nov 20, 2006 12:48:16 GMT
I agree too Julian but Ive never had one sat at my feet before, I was gonna pick him up ,but all I could think of was Terry Nutkins's fingers, ouch!!
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Otter
Nov 20, 2006 13:22:51 GMT
Post by JMallett on Nov 20, 2006 13:22:51 GMT
You did right mate!!! It is very unusual for it to have been so close. The one I saw down the Wharfe last week must have been startled by me. I didn't see it at first until I saw its tail as it plopped into the water only feet away from me, and it was when it was swimming away from the bank that I got a good look at it and confirmed it was an otter. It is nice to see them back on our rivers. I know they eat fish but they are part of nature's balance and I feel its only right that they should be there.
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Otter
Nov 20, 2006 22:54:01 GMT
Post by compo on Nov 20, 2006 22:54:01 GMT
take your camera next all ways have it in your box for such things pal
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Otter
Nov 25, 2006 19:35:19 GMT
Post by KevinClifford on Nov 25, 2006 19:35:19 GMT
Nature's balance is an urban myth Mr Mallett. What exactly does "Nature's balance" actually mean? Humans have released and are continuing to release otters - where's "nature's balance" involved in that? Our farming policy is changed by the EEC or the Government and therefore humans control how many insects, animals and birds survive - which species flourish and which species decline. Do you mean otters "have a right" to be present on our fisheries? Well, the fact is they only have rights if humans give them rights. I'm not claiming that is a good or a bad thing - simply a fact. Not many years ago otters were hunted and few humans cared much to protect them then - now their lot has turned full circle. If otters become a 'problem' humans are a fickle creature and they may decide they have no more rights than rabbits, rats, pigeons or mink.
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Otter
Nov 28, 2006 20:20:31 GMT
Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2006 20:20:31 GMT
hi guys,many years ago while fishing a match at ulleskelf,peg 20 now,a otter was there for a good 4 hrs, in and out of the water,didnt scare the fish at all,but it jumped out with a eel round its head,a good size one about a 1 lbs,it kept biting it till it stoped squirming to much then it lied on its back eventualy grabing its tail in its back paws, grabed its head in its front paws and streached its self out pulling the still stugling eel straight ,then crunched its head and ate it like a stick of rock, never seen owt like it and poberbly never will. stan..
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Otter
Nov 28, 2006 22:37:37 GMT
Post by messer on Nov 28, 2006 22:37:37 GMT
Hi Stan, On two occasions Ive been fishing, one has been present in my swim, but it never put the fish off and I still caught.
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