RSPB Spolight: Otters by Nicola Chester is an accessible and lively account of an intriguing and much-loved animal that, surprisingly, is still endangered and rarely seen despite a recent resurgence that has seen it expand from the remote countryside into our cities. Nicola's charming, informed text brings this elusive and exciting mammal into sharper focus revealing what an otter is, and how they live, feed, play and breed. Nicola reflects on how otters exist in our imaginations culturally and how that has changed over the years. She also examines the many challenges otters have faced, exposing what brought them to the brink of extinction, and explores the challenges we face in trying to find and watch otters in the wild. Each Spotlight title is carefully designed to introduce readers to the lives and behaviour of our favourite birds and mammals.
1) Meet the Otter
2) A Riverine Life
3) Family Play
4) Tarka
5) Mij and Mouse
6) Threats
7) Conservation
8) Spotting an Otter
9) Salty dogs
10) An Ottery
Glossary
Index
Nicola Chester's unique observations of wildlife first came to public attention when she won the BBC Wildlife nature writing competition more than a decade ago. She has been a columnist for the RSPB's Birds magazine since 2006, and combines her nature writing with the demands of raising a young family, but still finds as much time as she can to watch, track and study the diverse wildlife on her home patch in the Berkshire downs.