[Magdalen] River otters (was Re: Fox screams)

[Roger Stokes]

On 29/05/2015 04:36, Cantor03--- via Magdalen wrote:
> There were some arrests in the news locally of some poachers
> who killed a number of a protected species in Pennsylvania - the
> River Otter.

Over here otters virtually disappeared in the wild some years ago due to 
indirect human activity, pollution of our rivers destroying their prey.  
The good news is that effots to clean up rivers have had significant 
effect and otters have now been released back into the wild in some 
areas and are colonising.

Unfortunately some misguided groups have raided mink farms (please note 
I do not approve of animals being farmed for their fur) and released the 
mink into the wild - to the detriment of the native prey which is the 
otters' food source.  It may also be that mink take otter pups as well.

Roger