sea otters?

derbi · #1 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 01:40 PM

hello all.
this may sound like a silly question but do we get sea otters in the uk.
I was sure we do but after searching on google im now not sure.
Thankyou

The Woodman · #2 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 01:48 PM

Hi derbi
We only have the Eurasian Otter, Lutra lutra in the UK.

Occassionally there's an escapee like the Small-clawed Otter wandering around Millom at the moment.

The Sea Otter, Enhydra lutra, can be found along the northwest coast of North America, through Alaska, the Aleutian Islands and down the eastern sea board of Russia.

diggleken · #3 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 02:06 PM

just to add to woodmans grand help - some people refer to our otter as sea otters when they are seen in the sea, but they are just our normal lutra lutra living at the coast - a common thing in Scotland for example on the west coast and islands.
Ken

camo · #4 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 09:45 PM

Hi

Another misconception is that they are nocturnal hunters. They generally favour hunting in daylight and continue to do so when confident as in Scotland, however in England they have chosen to hunt at night to avoid people.

roy