THREE OTTERS HAVE BEEN SPOTTED in the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in the long pound at Skipton.
The Canal & River Trust have taken interest with Sharron Bright, community engagement coordinator of the trust, assisting members of the public to spot the creatures without disturbing them, she explaining:
Respectful of the otter
"Sometimes crowds do gather, but what we've seen is people being really respectful of the otter and its space, and that's really important and something to be mindful of for anyone who does come to see it.
"So we've got Otto, Ophelia and Oscar, as we've named them in our walking group, with the tip is to follow the little lines of bubbles that you tend to see."
She pointed out that the public should not feed the animals, keep away from the water's edge and keep their dogs on a lead.
Ban on harmful pesticides
The ban of harmful pesticides and the cleaning up of the waterways, together with legal protection has since helped them expand across most of mainland Britain.
Otters are protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and it is illegal to disturb them.