Otter killed on Lake Windermere

[sunnydale]

I've just heard that an Otter was killed on Thursday by an illegal trap that was set on Lake Windermere

Anyone know if this is true? And if it is, what were the motives behind it?

Tracey


Sorry, but I've posted this in 'General Wildlife' by mistake.

[KentYeti]

Dreadful news Sunny.

Have to wait to hear the full circumstances before commenting much further. But the use of an illegal trap does rather colour my judgement before even hearing any more.

Bryan

[The Woodman]

Yes, it's true I'm afraid.

It was reported and subsequently removed from an illegal fish trap in White Cross Bay by an Environment Agency Fisheries Officer on Thursday.

The EA are releasing details which will be available soon.

Thankfully instances like this are rare but some may remain undiscovered due to the nature of these illegal operations.

The most frequent method of drowning Otters is in unguarded eel fyke nets.

Otter guards are required by law on any freshwater net, trap or device that has the potential to trap Otter.

This is an image of an illegally set fyke net I removed from a South Lakes river containing the remains of four Otters and two mink. The part skull of the fourth male Otter is on the lower cadaver with the baculum.





I would urge anyone discovering any net or similar device to report it to the EA on the freephone number 0800 80 70 60 and they will check it out.

Anything that can be done to prevent this happening will be worthwhile.

[sunnydale]

Oh Woody, that's awful I take it fishermen are responsible for the above otter deaths - or rather, murders then?

Tracey

[The Woodman]

Hi Tracey, in the case I referred to, yes, commercial eel fishermen or someone with aspirations of making a quick buck due to the price of eels.

The Windermere case you highlighted was potentially someone trying to trap fish for whatever reason, possibly live or dead bait for pike fishing as the trap was found under a jetty. I dread to think it was the Otter PMG and others have been photographing and enjoying at Waterhead, north of White Cross Bay.

Apologies, the offence was detected last Tuesday and not Thursday as I incorrectly stated.

I'm aware of eight Otters killed in South Lakes by the illegal operation of nets and traps.

Sorry Tracey, I'll say it again on your thread - anyone who gets out and about in the country should have the Environment Agency's freephone (not in the case of mobiles though) number for all instances of pollution, poaching and similar instances in their mobile phone - 0800 80 70 60. If you see it, report it.

[The Woodman]

Abridged story here

Otter killed in illegal trap (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Full story in the Westmorland Gazette with picture. Strange comment from CWT, it is a fish trap so why should it be set above water level??