Williamson's Weekly Nature Notes

It is thought that this rare animal does find its way along the Rother, Adur and Arun. It also brings to mind the fact that my father's story Tarka The Otter is 80 years old this month, for it was first published in 1927 aand has never been out of print.

Even the Russians and Japanese have published the story, together with most European and Scandinavian countries.

The Havant otter was found by a railway worker who telephoned me and I was able to put him in touch with Sussex Wildlfie Trust officer Fran Southgate, who took its body to the post mortem HQ in Wales, where it awaits analysis along with 40 others found dead in the south.

Otters are becoming common in Wales and west country and road casualties are probably the main cause of death.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette November 28