Otters in East Norfolk

the cobb · #1 (**permalink**) 07-12-2009, 06:27 AM

I'll always thought that otters would enjoy the wetlands of Norfolk but have only ever seen one at Hickling Broad - very obliging little chap, siitng up so we could all admire him. However on Saturday I was driving back from Norwich to Gorleston along the Acle Straight when I was sure I saw the corpse of a young otter on the side of the road. Iwas about two foot long with the distinctive fat tail.

Within seconds of telling my wife about what I had just seen, I saw another corpse on the other side of the road - same size and same fat tail. If you know the road, you'll know that turning around for a second look is impossible so I can't be totally sure they were otters - I suppose there is an outside chance that they were tyres. Did anybody else see them over the weekend? They were down the Acle end, about a mile up from the roundabout? Or has anyone ever seen any otters around here?

david156 · #2 (**permalink**) 08-12-2009, 07:26 PM

Hello the cobb.

I have seen a few otters up here in the broads. The first was after dark one winter below wroxham bridge on a small brick outcrop at water level. We supprised each other and it disappeared down stream. Another rememberable one was on the lane between walberswick and the car park by the river bure, (oppisite side of the river to the ferry inn at horning). What I thought was a large black dog in the distance, bounding towards my car down the lane turned out to be an otter which was confirmed when it turned sharply and disappeared into the marshes. Have seen other brief glimpses but these two were the best.

Cheers David

Elevate29 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-12-2009, 08:00 PM

I saw one a few weeks ago at Coltishall. Mid afternoon, he was swimming between the moored boats by a riverside pub, oblivious to the busy carpark and beergarden. Guess they're not all as shy as we might think... although nobody else seemed to notice him slinking around

Elevate

david156 · #4 (**permalink**) 08-12-2009, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elevate29

I saw one a few weeks ago at Coltishall. Mid afternoon, he was swimming between the moored boats by a riverside pub, oblivious to the busy carpark and beergarden. Guess they're not all as shy as we might think... although nobody else seemed to notice him slinking around

Elevate

A work colleague saw otters up by the old mill at coltishall a couple of months ago whilst fishing.