Eurasian otters have recovered substantially in UK rivers following pollution reduction and legal protection. Understanding their ongoing welfare needs and remaining threats supports continued conservation success.
Otter welfare post-recovery is shaped by human infrastructure and pollution rather than natural factors. Road mortality causes traumatic death for animals crossing roads at river culverts and bridges. Individual otters that die on roads may leave dependent cubs in holts that require rescue and rehabilitation. Rodenticide accumulation, while not causing immediate visible harm, compromises liver function and reduces fitness over time. Discarded fishing tackle causes mouth injuries and entanglement that cause suffering and starvation. The overall welfare picture for recovered otter populations is substantially better than during the population nadir, but continued attention to these human-caused threats is necessary to sustain welfare and recovery.