Hebden Bridge Web

Tuesday 22 October 2024

• Did you know that Otters virtually disappeared from British rivers in the 1950s?
• Did you know that otters are coming back to our Yorkshire's rivers?

We are delighted to have an expert to answer these and all the other important questions about otters. Andrew is an ecologist whose current role is working to assess and reduce the impacts of renewable energy projects on wildlife populations. Andrew will tell us about the recent history of otter distribution in Calderdale and the creation of the Calderdale Otter Project.

We will learn about the biology and ecology of otters, the issues that caused their European decline and about their ongoing recovery in the UK and how that may be impacted by current and future threats. Eurasian otters are apex predators in the freshwater ecosystems of the UK. However, as recent as 50 years ago they were all but extinct in England, with remaining populations confined to the southwest of England and the Welsh borders.

Andrew has a long interest in most wildlife, although otters are a personal favourite of his. He also has an interest in Geographic Information System mapping software and how this can be used in local citizen science projects to improve our knowledge of wildlife populations and aid local conservation.

Finally, he will then explain the findings of the 2024 Calderdale-wide otter distribution survey.

Come and enjoy a wildlife success story. Next time you go for a walk near a local river, we know that Andrew's talk will have you scanning the river bank for signs of an otter. You might even spot one!

Tickets £10 online at: hblitandsci.org.uk or in person from Hebden Bridge Town Hall (cash/chq only)