European otters have recovered significantly across the UK following improved water quality, but face ongoing welfare threats from road mortality, pollution, and habitat degradation.
Road mortality causes acute traumatic death and injury to otters crossing between river systems via road culverts and bridges. Animals struck by vehicles suffer severe injuries including fractures and internal trauma. Chronic exposure to pollutants causes reproductive failure and gradual health decline in contaminated river systems. Otters injured or displaced from territories face nutritional stress if prey availability in alternative areas is insufficient. Wildlife rehabilitation centres treat numerous otter casualties annually, with road accident victims requiring intensive veterinary care. Otter road mortality can be dramatically reduced by installation of otter passes under roads at known crossing points, a relatively inexpensive infrastructure intervention with direct welfare benefits.