Otter in hot water saved in Inverness
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THEY might be rival fishers, but a baby otter owes its life to an angler making an early-morning visit to the River Ness.
Over the past few months, James Buchanan has been making extended visits from his home in Kirkintilloch to the Ness fishings managed by Inverness Angling Club, of which he is an associate member.
While fishing in the Little Isle Pool early on Wednesday morning, Mr Buchanan was alarmed to hear loud screaming coming from the opposite bank of the river, running alongside Island Bank Road.
He said: “I thought it was a couple of birds of prey screaming at each other, but then fellow angler Donnie Cameron pointed out that it was a baby otter which appeared to be in some distress.”
He added: “I followed it downstream, crossed the Infirmary Bridge and found it lying partly on the bank. It seemed utterly exhausted and appears to have been separated from its mother and siblings, probably by the high water of last week.
“I got a couple of bites when trying to pick it up so I took off my shirt and wrapped it up in that. It settled down as I walked up to the Anglers’ Hut. We alerted the SSPCA and an officer came and took it into their care.”
Angling club acting president Alex Elliott said: “We enjoy seeing the otters on the river. They are a key element of the wildlife habitat provided by the city’s unique Ness Islands.
“James did a really good job in rescuing this cub. Hopefully, it will make a full recovery and return to its native river.”
SSPCA rescue officer Rachael Fossey said: “I took the young otter to our National Wildlife Rescue Centre and when he is well enough, he will be released back into the wild.’”
