Nature Features

Across the UK, cuddly cartoon otters endorse everything from wildlife projects to leisure centres - proof that the public has taken this shy creature to their hearts.

Over recent years, national affection and dedicated conservation efforts have helped ensure the long-term survival of an animal that used to be common but hasn't lived locally for half a century.

Numbers plummeted in the 1950's as waterways became polluted, wiping out food sources, and urban sprawl took its toll.

Happily, however, the UK population is now showing healthy signs of growth again.

Lakes, rivers and rocky or coastal areas are the otters' natural habitats, and now it seems they can also be spotted hunting their prey in quiet stretches of the canal.

Otter territories are vast, up to 25 miles, but they are timid and not often observed by humans. You are more likely to come across one of their smaller and more confident cousins, the mink. Despite similarities, the two species are fairly easy to tell apart.

Otters are always brown with long bodies, strong tails and webbed feet to help them swim quickly through the water.

Their eyes are located at the top of their heads and they have sensitive whiskers.

Mink are smaller and slimmer than otters and resemble something between a small cat and a ferret.

Less good news is that British Waterways is also urging the public to think again about the environmental impact of the plants and pets they buy and dispose of.

The plea follows a report highlighting the 12 non-native species most likely to choke the country's canals, rivers and towpaths and harm native wildlife.

Many invasive 'foreign' species have made their way into the UK's inland waterways in recent years, including the seemingly-harmless weeds such as floating pennywort, water fern and giant hogweed dumped by people when clearing out their garden ponds.

American signal crayfish, red-eared terrapin and zebra mussels have also found their way into the waterways and not only compete with native species for food, they can also carry diseases that put our own wildlife at risk of infection.

Dealing with problem species costs British Waterways in the region of £1million each year.