Otter numbers have been increasing in the Lune catchment and Hornby is often a good place to see them. However, although I regularly check the parapet under the centre arch, a popular sprainting point, there were sometimes long periods between summer 2009, and autumn 2010 when it has been blank. Then came the year end with many sightings, including one dramatic one among ice floes at Bridge End corner. On the crisp morning of Friday 21st January 2011, I walked down the right hand bank of the Wenning to Wenning foot with my wife Sue. At the point – among the domestic dog padding –were two small otter pads. More padding was found among some willows, and much scuffing of the sand. Iit looked as though two youngsters had been larking about. Then, at the third groyne, we found the stripped carcass of a large salmon with only the head remaining and nearby a large spraint full of scales. There must have been a family party! In the last few weeks several people have seen partially eaten abandoned fish on the gravel both above and below Hornby bridge. One had had bites out of it on one day, but was finished off on the next. The pool, between the bridge and the weir is a favourite fishing venue. On a bitter 5th February morning, I took a look over Hornby Bridge and there was an otter fishing. Very exciting, but it was so very cold that I only watched for a very few minutes before dashing home to thaw out by the Aga.

I personally was most thrilled one afternoon in April last year to show my visiting family an otter fishing in the Lune just downstream of Wenning foot. One regular visitor reported an exciting altercation nearby between a family of three otters and a Heron about whose fish it was.

Other notable reports have been from Barbon beck, the Roeburn at Barkin bridge, and from a friend who lives just upstream of Arkholme. He was fishing one summers evening when an otter came out onto a groyne and watched him for some minutes! The farthest downstream report I have is of an otter fishing at Skerton Bridge. Coming up stream, there have been numerous sightings from the Denny beck bridge, and there is some exciting infra-red film of an otter within a boathouse at Halton. Once again that famous and historic holt at the Hermitage has been the birthplace for two otters. Mum has been seen not only just fishing, but persevering in a chase when her prey escaped from the amateur clutches of her two youngsters – she recaptured it! There have been signs, sightings and photos which show that the Artlebeck and it’s tributaries are being well visited too.

All is not good news though. The ‘Times’ ran an article by Simon de Bruxelles concerning anger about otter predation that has been expressed by the Angling Trust, in the ‘Angling Times’ and elsewhere. Some insist that ‘the Government introduce legislation for predators to be properly managed’. My published response to this (in the Times) brought an e-mail from an old friend – now living in Somerset and a member of the Angling Trust – who put the thing into context. He explained that Carp farmers were having regular (costly) visits from hungry otters. There is another hazard now becoming depressingly common: road deaths. I know of at least three: one between Arkholme and Newton, one on the A683 just south of Hornby and the third on Littledale road. The latter two were sent for post-mortems to be done by the EA. They had both taken to the road because of flooded culverts, and most sadly, both were bitches. Early in the year we had a report of a large dog otter (perhaps the dominant male pictured in last years magazine?) killed on the road near Gresgarth Hall. Unfortunately the body was picked up by a passerby so important DNA evidence about the otters on the Lune and other information has been lost.

James’s Williams has published a book entitled “The Otter”, ISBN 978-1-906122-22-5. This is simply the best ever book on our native otters, the culmination of a lifetime’s observations starting as a boy in these parts and later in Somerset, Devon etc. It contains many stunning photographs too.

Once again I sincerely thank all my informants, and most especially Erica and Tim Sarney.