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Hailed as one of the greatest wildlife experiences in the UK, there's something magical about watching an otter in its natural habitat. This beautiful and shy creature was pushed to the brink of extinction in the 1970s by habitat destruction, hunting and pesticides. It was a tragedy when the otter almost disappeared from England's rivers and waterways, but in the 21st century, mainly thanks to many harmful pesticides being banned, our rivers are no longer polluted by chemicals and the charming otter has made an amazing comeback. The massive conservation effort, led by the Environment Agency and wildlife organisations, has seen otters reappearing at many sites across the UK. After the disastrous situation in the 1970s, there were very few left in England and only slightly more in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Today, there are plenty of rural locations all over the country where you can see otters living in their natural habitat. So, how can you go about finding them in the UK? Common locations The secret to finding otters is to spot their habitat and trails around our riverbanks. The best times to watch out for them are dawn and dusk, when other wildlife is more active - this might give away an otter’s presence. For example, if you spot ducks suddenly swimming quickly in one direction, glancing over their shoulder, this could signal an otter nearby. Look in the reed beds, as this is hunting ground. A trail of bubbles on top of the water means an otter may be just below the surface, but it's likely to have spotted you first. Look for tracks on sandy or muddy banks, or on slipways, where you can sometimes spot signs of an otter sliding on its belly. Look around tree roots near the riverbank, or around rocks and under bridges. A tell-tale sign is otter droppings, known as spraints, as they are a distinctive black or ash-grey colour, made up of fish scales, shells and bones of water-dwelling creatures. Otters use the spraints to communicate with each other. They deposit a musky scent on to their spraints to warn other otters of their presence. If you smell a strong aroma around the riverbank and spot the droppings, you will certainly know there are otters about. Are there different types of otter? There are 13 different species of otter around the world, but only one is found in the UK. The Eurasian or European otter can be found at many locations across Britain. A carnivorous creature, it is an excellent swimmer and hunts in rivers, wetlands and along the coast. It is 60cm to 80cm long, with a tail measuring 32cm to 56cm. An adult weighs between 6kg and 8kg and its lifespan is between five to ten years. It feeds on fish (including eels), amphibians, waterbirds and crustaceans. Otters build underground burrows or "holts" to have their cubs. Even young ones are good swimmers and the cubs are in the water by the time they are ten weeks old.  With webbed feet, thick fur to keep them warm and the ability to close their nose and ears underwater, they have evolved to live in their riverside habitat. They have five toes, so their footprints are easy to spot. They need clean rivers to survive, with plenty of food and vegetation, so their holts can remain hidden. Otters are particularly prevalent at Portrack Marsh, Lodge Park and Sherbourne Estate, Winnall Moors, Gilfach Farm, Aughton Woods and Knapdale Forest, according to the "Finding Nature" wildlife organisation. The west coast of Scotland and West Wales also have thriving populations. Do otters live in groups? Apart from during breeding season, when they find a mate, European otters are solitary creatures. In the UK, they tend to work and hunt alone. Otters can be seen all year round, but you will seldom see them in groups in our rivers. The only otters that live in a group all year round are the sea otters, which are found in the Pacific Ocean Sea, often in groups of up to a few dozen - although the mothers and cubs are more solitary creatures until the young ones reach adulthood. There are several collective nouns for otters including lodge, bevvy, family, romp (describing their playful nature) or raft, which describes a group of otters in the water. Are they still endangered? The Eurasian otter is classified as "near threatened" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, even though the population has grown more quickly in the past 25 years. Today in the UK, there are an estimated 10,300 otters, with the majority being found in Scotland. The IUCN has set up the Otter Specialist Group, dedicated to monitoring the otter population and ensuring it never falls to dangerous levels again. The organisation has drawn up a long-term strategy for the preservation of this beautiful species and runs various online events to grab children's interest. You can find out more from the Otter Specialist Group. Now that the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions have been eased slightly, people can spend as much time outdoors as they like, taking exercise and enjoying some fresh air. If you're lucky enough to live near a rural location, going on an otter walk and looking for trails is a lovely activity for all the family. Cornish Seal Sanctuary If you are lucky enough to live in Cornwall, the Cornish Seal Sanctuary is home to Asian short-clawed otter pair, Apricot and Harris. Due to the pandemic, and the current lockdown, it is becoming increasingly difficult to fund the care essentials for these adorable creatures. If you think you could help to feed the otters with a donation, please visit the website, where you will find the ‘donate here’ link.  Thank you. 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