'Killer' otters terrorising town as they break into gardens and eat people's fish
One man has even set up a Facebook page to record every otter-related incident
by Sean McPolin · ChronicleLiveResidents of Ulverston, Cumbria, have been terrorised by a family of otters that have developed a taste for expensive fish, causing havoc in the community's ornamental ponds.
The situation has escalated to the point where one local, Nigel Cooper, 61, felt compelled to set up a Facebook page dedicated to tracking the ecological menace after witnessing first-hand their destructive habits.
Just two weeks ago, an otter leapt into his pond in the dead of night and took out seven prized fish. Recounting the incident, he said: "My wife looked out of the window and there was a big otter about two metres away from her, jumping into the pond. She squealed and I thought there was a burglar, so I rang into the living room, where she was, and chased the otter around the garden."
The furry intruder not only escaped but left behind a trail of destruction, having killed several of Cooper's fish.
He further detailed the episode: "It then scurried over the fence. He killed around four goldfish, two Koi and three Northern Gold fish. But we were lucky, because if they get into your pond and they aren't disturbed then they can completely wipe it out."
Highlighting the severity of the matter, Cooper remarked on the financial loss suffered by some enthusiasts, noting: "The otters even grab the big fish and drag them to somewhere a bit quieter, then they much through them. Some people are proper Koi experts, they can cost £20,000 to £30,000 each - they are really expensive. The otters can eat thousands of pounds worth in one night.", reports the Mirror.
The former operations manager believes there's been a rise in otter numbers lately, attributing it to increased food sources. He noted the presence of breeding otters: "If they are really successful, then they could have six pups in two years and then they breed," he said.
"All of a sudden, the population of them starts growing. The otters in the area have been that successful with breeding so they are pushing other otters out."
"They have been forced to look for an alternative food source and they've stumbled across a pond and thought that it's good food. They've established themselves somewhere around here but come into the urban areas, take the fish and then go back. It's just a case of finding where they are," he added.
Nigel confessed his fondness for the creatures but expressed concern over the burgeoning population, leading to more issues than locals would like to contend with. He is telling residents to deter the otters from entering their properties by sealing up any gaps and making fences unclimbable.
"I love otters but I think there is too many of them in the area," Nigel remarked. "I've done all sorts - we witnessed it climb over a five ft fence so you need something to stop them from climbing up them."
"We've got some chicken wire rolled up on the top of it, so it should stop them from climbing up the fence. We've also blocked every hole up that we possibly can."
Join our Breaking News and Top Stories WhatsApp community
Join our Breaking News and Top Stories WhatsApp community for all the latest news direct to your phone.
To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device. All you need to do is choose which community you want to join, click on the link and press 'join community'.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the ChronicleLive team.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.
If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice.