{"id":633578,"date":"2026-04-27T07:03:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T07:03:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/633578\/"},"modified":"2026-04-27T07:03:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T07:03:13","slug":"rangers-excited-after-bouncy-otters-spotted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/633578\/","title":{"rendered":"Rangers excited after &#8216;bouncy&#8217; otters spotted"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Rangers at a popular nature reserve were &#8220;excited&#8221; after they spotted a family of otters acting &#8220;playful and bouncy&#8221; on trail cameras.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The mum and two cubs were first seen on 11 April at Stanwick Lakes, in Northamptonshire, proving it had been a successful breeding season, staff said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The mammals were not normally seen this clearly, so it was a &#8220;real highlight for the team&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Ranger Michelle Branson said: &#8220;Otters are one of our most charismatic mammals, and to be able to see these playful snippets of their lives on our trail cameras is such a privilege.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"An otter bouncing off green grass. The otter is brown in colour. \" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"390\" height=\"219\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/d05eaee97223a229a119e4de0c30b99f.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The otters were seen bouncing around the nature reserve [Stanwick Lakes]<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Branson continued: &#8220;It&#8217;s great to see that our otters have bred successfully again this year.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">She said they are known as &#8220;indicator species&#8221; whose populations are heavily impacted by the quality of the environment and are sensitive to pollution and water contamination.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Having not just one otter, but a whole family at Stanwick Lakes is a brilliant sign that the ecosystem is healthy and that our lakes and little stretch of river are in good condition,&#8221; she added.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Three otters, moving on grass in a nature reserve. They are all walking away from the camera. There are sticks on the ground and a patch of light. \" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"602\" height=\"339\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ed88f97f2f7d56b46e0b3daeda1eae66.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The charity that runs the site said seeing the animals on its cameras was a real &#8220;boost&#8221; [Stanwick Lakes]<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Branson said: &#8220;The cubs are very bouncy and playful at the moment, but at this stage are likely to be learning to hunt alongside their mother.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Rockingham Forest Trust, which runs the site, believed the footage shows the cub&#8217;s &#8220;first forays into hunting&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The cubs are likely to stay with their mother for a year or two before &#8220;becoming fully independent&#8221;, it added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Its resident male otter has also been making regular appearances, leaving spraints (poo) to mark his territory.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;We don&#8217;t often get to see otters this clearly, so footage like this is always a real highlight for the team,&#8221; the trust said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Do you have a story suggestion for Northamptonshire? 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