2005 - Whitby Naturalists

sulphur. Bc very carcful if you decide ro open one, for shards will fly off
which are razor sharp and as hard as steel; you must have eye
protection. They are best opened {}om the narrow end. The chance o{
frnding a decent fossil in a nodule? Open ren and you may get onel
THE h4Ah,{MAi. RECORDERS REPORT
FIARRY NICF{OLSON
In August this year I paici a rzisit to the Otter Trust at Bowes' ncat
Bamaril Castle and it was very reassuring to hear about thc work of th;.s
organisaricn, which breeds British otters regularly in captivity and
releases the young animais into the wild every year to save the o[ter
from extinction. Over a hundred have been sct frce at this centre and
ttre other centres in Suffolk and Cornrvatrl. The Trust works closely
with English Nature and certain County \fildlife Trusts' Pubiic
sripport has been growing for any iegislation likely to plotect otters and
othlr wetland wildlife; and much invaluable work is undertaken with
young visitors about thc conservation of otters and all wildlife associaterl
with tvetlands and other areas on the iive wlldlife feserves u'hich
the Trust operates. The initial breeding programmcs have to be
carefully ilevcioped, taking into account suitable sites and the lengthy
perioel to buikl up stocks which is a consequencc of the ottet's low rate
of reprod.rction common in many carnivores at the top of their food
chain" Juvenile mortaliry can he high in the wild. Each litter is up to
three cubs so the maximurn potendal is probably six cubs per bitch.
The cubs grow slowly in the holt and are fed there by thc fernaie. At
ren weeks rhe cubs begin to follow their mother and to play rough and
tumble games. At this stage thcy are eating fish regularly but continuc
to suckle unril they are three months o[d. The otter is rather a silent
animai, atthough it can make a varieqr of noises, of which the most
well-known is thc so-called wl-ristle, an ultra high-pitched squeak
which carries a long way and which is a contact cail.