United States
£ GBP
Back from the brink of extinction, the otter is making a come-back in Britain today. James Williams, a life-long enthusiast of this fascinating, enigmatic creature, dispels some the mysteries in this beautifully-illustrated book:
* Reasons for the near-disappearance of the otter in the 1980s and the reasons for its recovery today * Why otters patrol their territories and fight for them * Breeding, natural history and behaviour * Unusual otter information: blind otters, the work of otter groups, the difficulties of introducing otters in the wild, their surprising ability to live close to man * Otters as predators - their impact on fish stocks, the difficulty of fish-hunting in cold water, their favourite foods * Tracking otters through their prints, and through their spraints * Helping the otter to survive in the 21st century
Customer Reviews:
James Williams The Otter
by Jo Pearse in United Kingdom
James Williams' book is both an unusual and thought-provoking read. It primarily narrates the decline and uncertain rise of the European Otter and examines the human element and endeavour involved.
Never afraid of discussion, this book throws ideas and ethical conundrums into the ring, from the early days of the otter hunts to animal charities policy of releasing hand reared cubs. The book's value lies in its ability to pull the various research projects and initiatives together into a cohesive story and to examine where we are in our understanding of this most difficult to understand species.
Mr Williams' long personal involvement with so many projects and from his current position of Chairman of the Somerset Otter Group has afforded an insight hard to match. What shines through every page is the author's admiration and compassion for the otter and his determination to give this most special of species the helping hand it deserves.
