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Cubs spend many months with their mothers, learning the ways of the otter

Ben Hoare

EURASIAN OTTERS LEAD PRETTY SOLITARY LIVES. Except, that is, when it’s time to make more otters. The male, known as the dog otter, doesn’t stick around, however. After mating, he’s off. So if you see two or more otters together, they’re almost certainly a mother and cubs. The bitch develops a strong bond with her young (two or three is typical) and they stay with her for 10 months, maybe longer. Most births are in the summer, but it could be late summer or autumn before the cubs have waterproof coats, enabling them to swim for the first time. From this moment, the family can be seen exploring and playing in the shallows, as the youngsters learn the important business of being otters. The north and west of Scotland has…

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Bbc Wildlife (Digital) - 1 Issue, August 2024

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