Two otters on the River Avon in Bath

Above: Otter on the River Avon upstream of Pulteney Bridge, Bath © Keelia Chen

At about midday on 15 December I was heading along the riverside path and noticed that a large amount of debris including some large branches had collected on the upstream side of Pulteney Bridge.

Having crossed the bridge I looked over the low river-wall by the back entrance to Waitrose and was astonished to see two otters engaged in a tussle for a fish that one of them had caught.

The otters were dashing about all over the thick raft of debris, then diving back into the river. This soon attracted the attention of a small crowd of spectators, including Keelia Chen, who took some photos which she kindly agreed to send me.

This was my first sighting of otters where I live in the centre of Bath. I have always been on the look-out, but to no avail. So it was a red-letter day for me, and perhaps for several other people who witnessed the spectacle.

Dr David Goode