2005 - Whitby Naturalists
2005 - Whitby Naturalists
2005 - Whitby Naturalists
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sulphur. Bc very carcful if you decide ro open one, for shards will fly off<br />
which are razor sharp and as hard as steel; you must have eye<br />
protection. They are best opened {}om the narrow end. The chance o{<br />
frnding a decent fossil in a nodule? Open ren and you may get onel<br />
THE h4Ah,{MAi. RECORDERS REPORT<br />
FIARRY NICF{OLSON<br />
In August this year I paici a rzisit to the Otter Trust at Bowes' ncat<br />
Bamaril Castle and it was very reassuring to hear about thc work of th;.s<br />
organisaricn, which breeds British otters regularly in captivity and<br />
releases the young animais into the wild every year to save the o[ter<br />
from extinction. Over a hundred have been sct frce at this centre and<br />
ttre other centres in Suffolk and Cornrvatrl. The Trust works closely<br />
with English Nature and certain County \fildlife Trusts' Pubiic<br />
sripport has been growing for any iegislation likely to plotect otters and<br />
othlr wetland wildlife; and much invaluable work is undertaken with<br />
young visitors about thc conservation of otters and all wildlife associaterl<br />
with tvetlands and other areas on the iive wlldlife feserves u'hich<br />
the Trust operates. The initial breeding programmcs have to be<br />
carefully ilevcioped, taking into account suitable sites and the lengthy<br />
perioel to buikl up stocks which is a consequencc of the ottet's low rate<br />
of reprod.rction common in many carnivores at the top of their food<br />
chain" Juvenile mortaliry can he high in the wild. Each litter is up to<br />
three cubs so the maximurn potendal is probably six cubs per bitch.<br />
The cubs grow slowly in the holt and are fed there by thc fernaie. At<br />
ren weeks rhe cubs begin to follow their mother and to play rough and<br />
tumble games. At this stage thcy are eating fish regularly but continuc<br />
to suckle unril they are three months o[d. The otter is rather a silent<br />
animai, atthough it can make a varieqr of noises, of which the most<br />
well-known is thc so-called wl-ristle, an ultra high-pitched squeak<br />
which carries a long way and which is a contact cail.