Otters and American mink look similar when seen from a distance & moving fast! Both can swim, which confuses things further.

Back in the 1950s, otter numbers were plummeting due to pollution & hunting, while mink were let loose from fur farms & spreading across the country...⬇️

The balance of wetland biodiversity was thrown off kilter for decades - with a disastrous effect on water voles, in particular.

Water voles can seek refuge from otters in their burrows but the smaller mink can enter their burrows, leaving them with little defence...⬇️

But since the turn of the century, with cleaner water & healthier rivers and more fish, otter numbers have gradually increased.

Otters can easily outcompete mink for food and territory, leading to a decline in mink where otters have reclaimed their lost territories... ⬇️

As well as keeping invasive species like mink at bay, otters ensure no one animal can dominate - maintaining a healthy ecosystem & rich biodiversity > features.wwt.org.uk/natures-super-…

#WetlandBiodiversityMatters