The Villager

MARSH MATTERS CONTINUED
and broader, pale chest and throat.
Otters breed at any time of year giving birth to
2 or 3 cubs in underground burrows, known as
a 'holt'. Excellent and lithe swimmers, the
young are in the water by 10 weeks of age.
They stay with their mums for up to a year and
then leave to find their own territory. The
male otters don’t have much to do with rearing
the young and even have separate holts to rest
in.
All otters have “home ranges” that have
quieter areas for breeding and have many
resting areas such as underground holts
(pipes and tree roots) and stands of long grass
and scrubby patches. These territories can be
up to 40km for a dog otter (half this size for a
female) and they guard them with their life!
Otters live for between three to four years in
the wild and death these days is more likely to
be as a results of injuries from a territorial
battle. Occasionally otters are killed on the
roads or drown in fish traps and young otters
can sadly die of starvation.
So that’s a bit about the beautiful otter. I hope
you get to see the one visiting Magor Marsh
but you will have to be patient. Please also
remember that otters are highly sensitive
animals – disturbing otters or their habitat is
an offence under the Wildlife & Countryside
Act so tread carefully and quietly.
What’s to Look forward to?
Apart from our otters, kingfishers and
hundreds of nesting birds including Cettis
Warblers and kingfishers - we have some great
events coming up for you. Our website has
more details (www.gwentwildlife.org) or
contact our head office – 01600 740600.
26
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Monmouthshire. NP26 3TA
01291 425666
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