Otter populations have recovered strongly in UK rivers since the 1970s, but family welfare depends on maintaining clean water, adequate prey, and secure holts free from disturbance.
Otter cubs separated from mothers prematurely face starvation due to their lengthy dependence on maternal hunting instruction. Road casualties cause acute trauma and death. Disturbance of holts containing young cubs can cause abandonment. Water pollution that reduces fish populations forces otters into suboptimal territories with insufficient prey, causing the welfare harm of chronic food insecurity.