Wildlife

Wild Otter Road Mortality in the UK

Road mortality is a major threat to recovering otter populations, particularly where rivers cross roads with inadequate passage infrastructure.

Key Facts

Otter road deaths account for a significant proportion of UK mortality
Otters travel along riverbanks and are forced onto roads where bridges lack ledges
Otter holts under bridges are particularly dangerous, exposing animals to road traffic
Ledge retrofits and otter passes under bridges are highly effective
Population recovery since the 1970s has been partially offset by road mortality

Welfare Considerations

Road mortality causes severe acute trauma to otters and limits population recovery in otherwise suitable habitats. Engineering solutions offer practical relief.

What You Can Do

Report otter road casualties to local wildlife trusts and the UK Otter Survey
Support wildlife crossing funding in road infrastructure planning
Join river monitoring programmes that track otter population health