Name of baby otters?

[Dan Salter]

Ok i have been using the springwatch forum while watching the webcams, someone came on and stated that they were rowing (friendly) with their other half.

The wife says young otters are pups and the hubby says they are kits?

Hmmmm...
Springwatch came with a reply and told her she was right, the young are pups, the female is a bitch and the male a dog....

Im not disagreeing......however, I thought i would get good old WAB'ers opinion...I have just read the original Henry Williamsons 'Tarka the Otter', he was quite clearly a very talented naturalist and all through the story refers to them as cubs (not kits or pups), similarly all through Charlie hamilton james/Phillips forresters 'My Halcyon River' film they are referred to again as cubs.

I also have the official Mammals Trust book on otters....again....Cubs
and another otter book by the International Otter survivial find...again...they call them cubs.

My readers digest guide to uk mammals.....Cubs.

And a google search on the matter brings up lots of different sites some claiming they are pups, some kits and some cubs?

Which is it folks?....i have always called stoat and weasel etc 'kits', otter ' cubs' and i guess seal 'pups'...

But me being a scientist and all that, what is the official label on this?...is springwatch correct with pups?....if so why do sooo many use the incorrect cubs? I suppose thinking about it, it makes sense to follow the K9 'dog and bitch' thing with puppies/pups? im just annoyed i have had it wrong for 35 years

Over to you lot to discuss

Dan

[The Woodman]

Its got to be Otter cub, and I'd go along along with your kits for the relevant species. Don't forget, bats have pups.

I don't think you've had it wrong for 35 years! Dogs and bitches OK for the male and female, what does Springwatch know?

[pressld2]

Another vote for cubs from me just because that's what I've always called them (probably from reading Tarka at a tender age).

Dave P.

[rogpow]

Just checked my copy of Simon King's Wildguide and he refers to the young as cubs.
Perhaps he should correct the Springwatch team!

[ron1863]

I've always known them as cubs too. Just because someone calls then pups or kits on TV doesn't make them correct.

[Dan Salter]

Hmmm this is what i thought, but there are sites out there using pups, and kits!

it was on the springwatch forum by the way

Dan

[Dan Salter]

Im so curious about this, the more research i am doing the more im thinking pups is correct, amazing how so many publications and naturalists like Simon King himself use cubs though? ...maybe its an accepted either way thing? pups or cubs...

im going to try and email the SW team nearer showtime/to see if they can answer it on SW or SW unsprung?

[The Woodman]

I've just been chatting with the Chairman of the Mammal Society and discussed the issue with him. As a keen respected scientist who has been involved with mustelid research, he is more than happy with Otter "cub" and suggests that "kits" may be used with the smaller mustelids.

[Lance Morgan]

Otter cub or pup is good enough for me. I have heard baby rabbits being called kits (kittens) and when i kept ferrets we called the babys kits.

[Jenny W]

I always thought it was 'cubs' for Otters.