Stop bullying our otters

Sightings have been made of some Mull visitors ‘chasing’ otters along sea and loch shores because they are so desperate to take home a prize holiday snap.

Otter seekers on Mull are being told to stop their bullying behaviour.

The call comes from a wildlife group on the island and is being backed by BBC2 Springwatch presenter Iolo Williams, who made a live TV appeal from Mull for tourists and photographers to show more respect to otters and humans who live there.

Sightings have been made of some visitors ‘chasing’ otters along sea and loch shores because they are so desperate to take home a prize holiday snap of the enchanting “ mammals.

Otter hotspots on Mull are being crowded by sometimes 20 to 30 cars in the one place, churning up land and congesting roads making access awkward for people living nearby.

Concerns of harassing otters and annoying residents have reached Mull community councillors who are now inviting police and Mull Otter Group to join a future meeting to discuss what can be done to stop the problem.

One idea from the last community council meeting ‘to stop bullying our otters’ was to get CalMac to put out an otter-aware advisory announcement before ferry passengers disembark – similar to the one about how to use passing places properly.

Police are already stepping up patrols at known otter hot-spots and Mull Otter Group is working on a revised fl ier for visitors. A spokesperson for Mull Otter Group said she had seen otters being ‘chased’ up to a mile away from where they want to be. ‘It’s a massive on-going concern. They are physically chasing otters, stopping them from getting out of the water to dry off or from getting back to their holts; it could be a mother needing to feed her young.

‘It’s not everyone who is harassing our otters but we need help to promote more sensible behaviour and

would welcome any support. It’s not going to be easy. Visitors and some photographers might not think they are harassing them but if what they are doing is stopping otters from going about their normal behaviour – then it is a serious problem. ‘I’ve seen people running along the shore and the otters can’t get out when and where they need to. ‘We also need people to stop advertising holt locations on social media. We’d It’s a massive on-going ask people to be patient, enjoy Mull’s beauty and you might just see an otter anyconcern. They time. Please don’t just stake are physically out a particular holt to get a chasing otters, photo,’ said the spokesperstopping them son. from getting out of the water to And added: ‘We don’t want to be draconian about it; we don’t want to ruin anyone’s dry off or from holiday. We just want people getting back to to be responsible.’ their holts Springwatch presenter Iolo Williams, who has been fi lming with young wildlife enthusiast Murdo Morrison, highlighted the need for respect during a broadcast last week, giving out advice on how to watch otters responsibly and saying footage caught by the show’s cameraman was taken from at least 40m away.