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Most of our rivers have no ice covers, in spite of this year’s deluge of snow: there have been few really severe cold periods. The water level in the upper runs of the rivers is average, that is, the ditches don’t yet feed the rivers with water from melted snow.

 

Otters know how to enjoy winter and the snow. Our largest water-living predator can be seen in the short winter days rambling along river banks, sometimes frolicking in the snow with the youngest offspring of the family. The female otter and the young born last year move together. Otters forage for food in water and the dense outer layer of guard hair of the fur is dried by rolling round in the snow.

 

For food they chase fish, amphibians wintering in the bottom mud or molluscs. An otter’s dive usually lasts less than a minute. Generally they climb up on the shore with their prey, on to trunks of trees leaning into the water or stones.