Rise in otter numbers in Lincolnshire 'show water quality is improving'

There has been a rise in the number of otters spotted in Lincolnshire, which is an indication that the water quality of the UK's rivers is improving.

The Lincolnshire Echo has reported that the increase in otter deaths in the area could be a seen that there has been a boost in population for the river mammal.

Lincolnshire Naturalist Union's Chris Manning said in the group's weekly email newsletter: "This tragic sequence of loss is, hopefully, signalling an increasing otter population in Lincolnshire."

His comments follow from the remarks Richard Benyon, minister for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, recently made, suggesting that this is likely to be the result of the good water quality in the UK.

He said: "Thanks to dramatic improvements in water quality we have seen the return of the otter to every region in England, bringing it back from the brink of extinction."

The Environment Agency revealed that otter populations were harmed significantly by pesticides being put into rivers during the 1970s, but a ban on these has led to a revival of the species.

Posted by Lauren Steadman