Nature Example
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Otter
Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Click here for the license
Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Click here for the license
Otters are playful and secretive mammals that live along our rivers and coastlines. They are often most active at dawn and dusk, or during the night, using their excellent sense of smell and long whiskers to hunt for fish in the dark.
How to spot signs:
Look for their five-toed footprints in muddy riverbanks and for their poo, called 'spraint', which is full of fish bones and has a surprisingly sweet smell, a bit like jasmine tea!
💡 Fun Facts
- Otters have the densest fur of any animal in the world, with up to a million hairs per square inch to keep them warm in cold water.
- They can close their ears and nostrils when they dive underwater.
- Otters live in underground dens called 'holts', which often have an underwater entrance.