Important monograph on the wild otter Lutra lutra, from the author of The Social Badger. Based on direct observations of otters in Scotland, the text provides comprehensive descriptions of the populations and behaviour of this species. Chapters cover food and foraging strategies, ecological information on the otter's main prey fish, problems of energetics and thermo-insulation, population structure, mortality and reproduction, and the impact of humans. The author also draws comparisons with other otter and carnivore species.