Disappeared from Derbyshire and the rest of the Midlands by the 1960s-1970s. Slowly recovered and expanded their range nationally, reaching Derbyshire by the early-mid 1990s. Now appears to be established in the south on the Trent, lower Dove, lower Derwent and tributaries. Also recorded on the River Amber and on the Peak District section of the Dove. There have been a handful of records from elsewhere in the Peak District but no evidence yet of regular presence on the Wye, Upper Derwent, Goyt or Etherow. Road casualties were found in 2003 just over the county bounty in Cheshire and very close to the National Park boundary in West Yorkshire so recolonisation from the north is certainly possible. Derbyshire Wildlife Trust's Water for Wildlife Project operates a county-wide monitoring programme.

More on otters in Derbyshire

Species identification information

Distribution map available soon