THE BOOK OF THE OTTER 



with cubs is killed, the cubs, if well grown, will 

 search the vicinity for their parent, the same 

 applying to one of a pair which has been caught 

 in a trap, its mate remaining near it all night in an 

 attempt to get it away. On these occasions the 

 otters make a considerable noise, blowing and 

 snorting in their agitation. On one occasion some 

 years ago, a brother of ours found three small otter 

 cubs on a Yorkshire beck, which he eventually 

 captured. The bitch otter remained close at hand, 

 making a great fuss, regardless of any possible 

 danger to herself. The cubs were carried home, 

 a distance of a mile or more, but were returned 

 within a short time to the pool where they 

 were found. The bitch otter again made her 

 appearance, and eventually went off with her 

 restored family. 



Otters, being great nomads, wander long 

 distances up and down our rivers, frequently 

 crossing high watersheds, and travelling far across 

 country. Having no fixed abode like the fox, the 



otter inhabits temporary retreats or holts during 



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