Otters on river banks 'sign of good ecosystem'
The Wear Rivers Trust said evidence of the mammals living on the River Deerness in County Durham showed the area was home to a diverse range of wildlife.
A local resident spotted otters 38 times on his trail camera last year, while environmental groups regularly find otter droppings - known as spraints - in the area.
The charity's volunteering and engagement office, Daniel Rutland, said the "apex predators" were a "flagship species" and their presence meant there were lots of other animals around.
"Being apex predators they need a good food supply - that's the reason they're there," he said.
"Everything from plants through to insects and fish need to be there to be sufficient food for the otter."
'Good news'
As well as being a sign of a strong ecosystem, otters also increase biodiversity by eating fish, which feed on insect larvae, allowing insects such as dragonflies to develop.
Mr Rutland said it was hard to know how many otters lived there because their territories often covered 12 to 18 miles (19.3 to 28.9km) of a riverbank.
"It could be just one or two otters or a family that cover the whole river and with a really healthy river you could have more than that," he said.
"But we'll take the good news and enjoy it."
Despite the positive signs of wildlife, The rivers trust estimates only about 15% of rivers in England are ecologically healthy.
The River Deerness was last tested by the Environment Agency in 2019 and was given a poor rating for its ecological quality.
"There's a long way to go yet to be able to say that any water course is healthy," Mr Rutland said.
"But nature is resilient and we just celebrate every sign that there's life and there's recovery."
Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Related stories
The 'pioneer' otter with a special love story
Otter and cub spotted playing in city river
Diesel river spill 'could affect native crayfish'
Related internet links
Wear Rivers Trust
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Historic County Durham house with ties to Queen Victoria on market for £1 million
Dating from the early 19th century and with ties to Queen Victoria, a historic County Durham house has hit the property market. The Old Vicarage in High Etherley, near Bishop Auckland, is a Grade II-listed residence, and is on the market for offers over £1 million. The property is architecturally significant and historically rich, having once housed the village's first reverend, George Watson. With the support of Queen Victoria herself, who purchased 33 copies of a fundraising sermon collection written by the reverend, the house underwent early improvements and expansion. The property is also noted to have historic links to Lord Armstrong of Cragside. Set in beautifully landscaped four-acre grounds, the detached former rectory is Tudor in style and constructed from coursed sandstone with ashlar dressings under a Welsh slate roof. (Image: A&G LAND AND PROPERTY AGENTS) It is set in a quiet part of High Etherley and is surrounded by themed gardens, formal lawns, gazebos, summer houses and peaceful seating areas. The residence offers six bedrooms, a series of well-appointed reception rooms, a stunning orangery, and a spacious bespoke kitchen with high-quality integrated appliances and an open glass atrium ceiling. There are an abundance of period features throughout, including working sash windows with shutters, ornate fireplaces, wood panelling and stained glass. The property also features a modern steam and shower room, multiple cellars and a number of outbuildings including a substantial detached garage with workshop, kitchenette, WC and shower room. The magnificent grounds are a highlight in their own right. A wrought iron moon-gate leads through to an Italianate garden complete with cascading waterfalls, statues and fountains. (Image: A&G LAND AND PROPERTY AGENTS) Elsewhere in the gardens are meandering paths, a fruit and vegetable garden, wildlife meadow, and an array of formal and informal areas designed for relaxation and enjoyment. The village of High Etherley offers excellent access to nearby Bishop Auckland and the surrounding countryside, while Durham, Darlington and the A1(M) are all within easy reach. This is a rare opportunity to acquire one of the North East's most impressive period homes. The Old Vicarage has been extensively renovated and thoughtfully extended, presenting in excellent condition throughout, and offers enormous versatility for residential or commercial use. Recommended Reading: Inside stunning Georgian farmhouse near Richmond up for sale for £1.65m Unique County Durham home designed as an ornate cow barn on sale for £1.75m Charming County Durham farmhouse with 33 acres of land and stables is on the market The property is offered with no forward chain. Viewings are strictly by appointment and accompanied by the agent. To arrange a viewing, contact Gareth Jones on 0191 430 3025 or email gareth@ For further information, visit
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
A Woman Says She's Being Blamed for Keys Her Mother Lost a ‘Month' Ago — 'This Is Insanity'
"That's bats---!' replied one person to the woman's communityNEED TO KNOW A woman says her mother is blaming her for losing an important set of keys She said that her mother briefly stopped by her home over a 'month' ago and insists she left the keys on a hall table The woman said the keys are nowhere to be found — yet her mother insists she's at faultA woman says that she's being blamed for keys that her mother lost a month ago — and she's now asking others if her annoyance over the situation is justified. She detailed her story on the 'Am I Being Unreasonable' forum on the U.K.-based community site a place where women can go to seek advice from other women about interpersonal issues. In her post, the woman — who is married with a toddler — said that her mother briefly stopped by their home last month so that they could all drive to a wedding together. Now, 'weeks later,' she said her mother is insisting that she left an important set of keys on a hall table during the visit. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'It's keys to my grandparents' house, and she said she took them from her car and put them there for safekeeping,' the original poster (OP) added. 'The keys aren't there and [my husband] and I haven't seen them,' the woman continued. She went on to say that her mother told her she is 'very disappointed' in her for 'losing her keys,' and keeps messaging her to ask that she 'look again properly.' The OP said that her mother even claims she plans to draw a 'diagram' so that the OP and her husband can locate the missing item. 'AIBU [am I being unreasonable] to think this is insanity?' the woman asked at the end of her post. The majority of commenters assured the OP that she has every right to feel frustrated by her mom's behavior. "Yes, that's bats---!' one person said. 'I'd tell her I don't want to hear about the keys again unless it's her apologizing and telling me she's found them somewhere else!' 'Just tell her you have looked and can't find them. If she wants to look, she's welcome, but there's little point. Tell her to look elsewhere [and] that you haven't seen or touched them and won't be held responsible for 'losing' them,' said someone else. Another person said, 'I'd be pointing out that looking after the keys was her responsibility, not yours. I'd offer for her to visit and look for them herself. The likelihood is that she's lost them somewhere entirely different.' Some people, however, pointed out that there's a chance the keys could be in the house — especially in a home with a toddler. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! 'Toddlers do pick things and move them randomly, especially if it's something out of the ordinary/unusual,' said one commenter, adding, 'Have you checked cupboards, drawers, shoes, etc. in the vicinity and asked your toddler if they picked up what granny put on the hall table?' 'Kids love keys — maybe the child has moved them,' agreed someone else. Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Rare bird spotted over skies of the region that sets hope for future sightings
Nature enthusiasts and bird watchers in the North have yet another reason to celebrate, following the most recent sighting of a bittern in North Yorkshire. Captured on camera by Steve Raine, a member of the Northern Echo Camera Club, the images, taken in late June, show the shy, elusive bird gliding low over a reedbed, its streaked plumage blending effortlessly with the wetland vegetation—a stunning and rare sighting for the region. This latest appearance follows several other reported sightings in County Durham and across the wider North East, including at Rainton Meadows, RSPB Saltholme, and Weardale, suggesting that the once-vanishing bittern may be quietly staging a comeback in the region's revitalised wetlands. The bittern (Botaurus stellaris), a secretive member of the heron family, is one of the UK's most elusive birds. It is notorious for its pale brown, streaked plumage, which allows it to remain nearly invisible among the reeds. Adding to its mystique is its trademark booming call, a deep foghorn-like sound made by males during the breeding season, audible up to two miles away, mostly at night. While present year-round, sightings remain uncommon due to the bird's shy nature and preference for dense reedbeds. When it does emerge, often at dawn or dusk, it offers a moment of wonder for those lucky enough to witness it. The bittern was once on the brink of extinction in Britain, with the species almost wiped out by habitat loss and hunting in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Read more Nearly 200 objections to plan for hundreds of new homes in North East town Person taken to hospital after air ambulance lands at County Durham incident Newton Aycliffe woman admits £30,000 council tax and benefit fraud over six years What happens next with Hayden Hackney after Middlesbrough accept Ipswich offer Darlington hair salon forced to pay another former staff member thousands By 1997, the UK population had dropped to just 11 males. Thanks to decades of conservation, including reedbed restoration and legal protections, bittern numbers have slowly begun to recover. Now classified as: Amber-listed on the UK Birds of Conservation Concern list A Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework Protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 Bitterns in the North: A Trail of Hope This year has seen a string of rare sightings across North East England, marking a promising trend: Rainton Meadows (February 4): Photographed by Ray Haldane, a sighting hailed as the first extended stay in over a decade RSPB Saltholme (2012 & 2022): A booming male was heard, although earlier attempts to attract a mate were unsuccessful Weardale: Noted for its rich mix of moorland and wetland habitats, ideal for bitterns North Yorkshire (June): Latest sighting by Steve Raine adds to regional optimism These sightings, while still rare, suggest that ongoing habitat protection efforts across the North are bearing fruit, slowly building conditions where bitterns can feed, nest, and possibly breed. Spotting a Bittern: What to Look For Size: 70–80 cm in length with a wingspan of 1.3 metres Appearance: Stocky heron with streaked beige, brown, and black plumage Behaviour: Stands motionless for long periods, mimicking reed stems Best Times: Dawn or dusk in spring and summer when they are most active Why It Matters Conservation groups like the Durham Wildlife Trust and RSPB encourage the public to: Report sightings responsibly Avoid disturbing sensitive habitats Support wetland protection initiatives Steve Raine's photographs from North Yorkshire join a growing body of evidence that the bittern is not just a relic of the past, but a living success story of British conservation.
