THE last 40 years has been a period of mixed fortunes for the otters of England, although they continue to thrive in parts of Scotland.

By 1970 otters were all but extinct in England through a combination of hunting with dogs, persecution by jealous anglers envious at their skill in catching fish, but especially as a result of river pollution.

Without doubt there has been a revival, but this is best described as mixed.

Most anglers are conservationists these days and love to see all forms of wildlife along the more healthy rivers.

Obviously I am more interested in the status of otters in the north of England than elsewhere and there are sightings in places like the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and along our own rivers the Lune, the Ribble and the Hodder.

It comes as a surprise to many to learn that in 1780 one of the most famous otter hunting areas in England was along the River Irwell between Ramsbottom and Bury.

Sadly the pollution caused by the cotton industry soon killed the fish and the otters either died or moved elsewhere.

Some naturalists do not know exactly when their interest began.

I am lucky in that I can tell the precise date. It was September 10, 1950, when I was taken to see an otter hunt on the River Leven near Haverthwaite.

I watched cruel looking men dressed in green coats armed with sticks and leading a pack of otter hounds trained to kill.

The hunt found the otter and the chase began. After two hours the otter escaped and I was sworn at for clapping!

I write these notes in September, 2008, and I’ve been a conservationist ever since thanks to this brave and artful otter.

His relatives, I hope, still live on the River Leven, but enjoy a more peaceful life .