Last bank holiday Monday I saw my first ever otter, heartbreakingly it was laid dead beside the A1 close to Scotch Corner. Does anyone know where I might have the chance of observing these beautiful creatures in or around Teesside ? I've been to Weary bank a few times, and seen tell tale footprints in the mud, a sighting of an otter would be just brilliant. Are they nocturnal ? Or do they venture out during daytime ?
I've not heard of them cavorting around the barrage for a while so they may have moved on. If you are prepared to move a little further west, between Darlington and Gainford has been as productive for otter sightings as anywhere round here lately. Of course everything is relative and you would be extremely lucky to see one in these parts; I never have.
If you want to travel a bit further I believe that Big Waters in south Northumberland is about the best spot in the north east for actually seeing one.
Your A1 road casualty was very interesting; if it was actually at Scotch Corner then it must have been some way from water but not so surprising if a little further south. I have seen an otter road casualty on the road alongside Bolton Gravel Pits. Do you have a grid ref for your otter casualty and are you sure it was an otter (I don't mean to be condescening but mammal ID can be tricky at 70mph; I once mistook a large cuddly toy for a dead panther). If you are sure it was an otter Yorkshire mammal group would be very interested in the record as they are compiling a county mammal atlas.
There are almost as many mammal posts as bird ones on this forum; I can see us being banned :)
Ian
Try river Tees aroung Winston and GainfordI have seen several over the last few years. Have been told that they are most likely to have escaped from otter santuary further up river. Could the dead animal you found be a mink. There are plenty in that area and will travel away from rivers to feed.
Thanks for the useful info. It was definately an otter, I wasn't travelling that fast, and the size of it and the length of its tail drew the eye to it. It was about 5 miles North of Scotch Corner on the southbound hard shoulder.
There was an Otter around at Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park a couple of weeks ago. I saw it on the beck on the north side of the park by the wooden footbridge where two streams meet - but several people saw it at various places around the park. I've not seen it since - despite looking every visit!
Five miles north of Scotch Corner would be about where the A1 crosses the Tees. Ignore my earlier comments about seeing an otter on the Tees between Darlington and Gainford; this was probably it :(
Ian