Urban Otters..

[Rumi]

Here is an update on the Urban Otters in Oxford..

http://urban-bush-craft.blogspot.com/

[dave53]

interesting thread rumi nice to learn something new regards dave

[oldtimer]

I think Rumi's pictures confirm suspicions my grandson and I had that we had seen otter tracks on the Ray at Islip, just upstream from Oxford. Other evidence is hearsay that fishermen had found fish remains on river bank with just soft part eaten. Thank you Rumi.

[Rumi]

I havent been posting fish kills at all, but otters are not wasteful eaters and will devour the whole fish if undisturbed. Theyt start with the soft parts and work their way to the rest of the flesh. In the main they are eating Signal Crayfish, rats, mink, ducks and other water fowl. @oldtimer I would really appreciate some GPS coordinates of where you have seen them, as your otter will probably border the one I track.

[oldtimer]

Rumi: Co-ordinates of possible Otter signs seen near Islip are :- N 51 49.219' W 01 13.573 or OS SP 53327/13353. Signs were where a field drain culvert meets the River Ray just after a field gate. I visited yesterday but saw no further evidence apart from one possible paw print. Another old boy who has lived here for years cited clear evidence of mink sitings where the Ray and Cherwell converge. He also mentioned that there are plenty of crayfish in the river but reckoned there are no fish. We do get anglers from time to time so they must be coming for something. I'll keep looking and let you know I get any better evidence. Sorry for the delay in replying, but I only re-visited this thread at the weekend.

[johnnythefox]

they where seen around the first open hide on otmoor but i havent found them yet.

this is a good blog [not mine]

http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/OtmoorBirding/