Baby otters rescued after tree fall at Compton Verney
Three baby otters have been rescued after their nest was exposed by a fallen tree in our grounds.
Our grounds team were surprised to discover the three pups, believed to be around five weeks old, yesterday morning. The nest had been hidden beneath a tree that unexpectedly fell during recent wet and windy weather.
Once we had gotten the pups safely inside, we contacted The Otter Trust, who advised that the young otters were too vulnerable to be returned to the open and should be taken into care.
On coming to site to retrieve the pups, closer examination by staff from The Otter Trust revealed the three pups to be two males and one female.
They will be weaned by hand then transferred to a specialist site where they will learn to look after themselves before being returned to Compton Verney in approximately 12 months’ time.
Our Landscape Manager, Fiona said,
We’re fortunate to have a thriving otter population here, and this discovery highlights the richness of our landscape. The lake and wetland areas provide an ideal habitat. We’re really looking forward to seeing these pups return home one day.
While the mother may still be nearby, the risk to the pups was too high. They would have needed to find shelter very quickly to survive. This was the best outcome for their welfare.
At Compton Verney, we’re committed to supporting the wildlife and biodiversity across the site.
Otters have been present here since 2020, with signs of multiple families now believed to be living across the interconnected lakes. The animals are territorial and typically raise their young in secluded holts along the water’s edge.
It was a bittersweet moment to have the pups taken away but with luck, they will return in 2026, bigger, stronger and ready to make Compton Verney their home once more.
Huge thanks to The Otter Trust for their swift response, valued assistance and vital service.
