Eurasian otters have recovered substantially in UK rivers following bans on hunting and organochlorine pesticides, but ongoing threats require continued conservation effort.
Otter recovery is one of UK conservation's genuine success stories, driven by clean water policy, pesticide bans, and hunting prohibition. Individual otter welfare is now primarily threatened by road casualties and habitat quality. Otters that cannot access sufficient fish due to river degradation or loss of bankside cover suffer nutritional stress, particularly breeding females with cubs. Road mortality is a particularly acute welfare impact - otters are killed while moving between water bodies during expansion into new territories. River management that incorporates otter-friendly features and wildlife crossing infrastructure can reduce these harms.