Appeal for care on the roads after otter killed near Toft ferry terminal
HILLSWICK Wildlife Sanctuary has made an appeal for drivers to take extra care on the roads after a large male otter was hit and killed on Saturday morning.
The otter was found dead on the A968 road leading to the Toft ferry terminal just before noon on Saturday.
The wildlife sanctuary said it received numerous messages about the animal, which it described as a “big, beautiful male otter”, but said it was dead by the time they arrived.
It said some people had contacted them and said the otter had been alive when they saw it, but only “just”.
The sanctuary described it as a “very sad sight” and said it had occurred after a vehicle “no doubt in a hurry to catch the ferry” hit the otter.
Shortly after that incident, the Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary said it received a second call about an injured otter near to the Brig o’ Fitch.
“We headed off again, but this time the otter had disappeared into the undergrowth and was nowhere to be seen,” it said.
They thanked everyone who let them know about the two otters and made a plea for drivers to exercise more caution on the roads.
“All we can do once again is ask drivers to take care, slow down and keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, especially now with young chicks often stepping out onto the road unaware of the danger they are in,” they added.
