Eurasian Otter
Eurasian OtterEurasian OtterEurasian OtterEurasian Otter

Eurasian Otter

Lutra lutra

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
5–10% · With luck
overall probability at Cairngorms National Park
16 Verified records at Cairngorms National Park
April Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), also known as the European otter, Eurasian river otter, European river otter, common otter, and Old World otter, is a semiaquatic mammal native to Eurasia and the Maghreb. It is the most widely distributed member of the otter subfamily (Lutrinae) of the weasel family (Mustelidae) and is found in the waterways and on the coasts of Europe, much of Asia, and parts of North Africa. The Eurasian otter eats mainly fish, and is strongly territorial. It is endangered in some parts of its range, but is recovering in others. Wikipedia →

5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Eurasian Otter sighting in Cairngorms National Park, based on 16 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Cairngorms National Park

European Badger
LC

European Badger

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Meles meles

20–30% · Possible
Pine Marten
LC

Pine Marten

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Martes martes

20–30% · Possible
Stoat
LC Endemic

Stoat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Mustela erminea

5–10% · With luck
Least Weasel
LC Endemic

Least Weasel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Mustela nivalis

Insufficient data
Red Fox
LC Endemic

Red Fox

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Vulpes vulpes

5–10% · With luck

📅 Monthly Probability

10–20
Jan
10–20
Feb
<5
Mar
20–30
Apr
10–20
May
5–10
Jun
5–10
Jul
5–10
Aug
5–10
Sep
<5
Oct
<5
Nov
<5
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Cévennes National Park 🇫🇷 France
20–30%
2 Białowieża National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
10–20%
3 Monfragüe National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
10–20%
4 Cairngorms National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
5–10%
5 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
5–10%
6 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
5–10%
7 Doñana National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
5–10%
8 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
5–10%
9 Fertő-Hanság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
<5%
10 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
<5%
11 Royal Manas National Park 🇧🇹 Bhutan
Insufficient data
12 Wilpattu National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
Insufficient data
13 Biebrza National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
Insufficient data
14 Minneriya National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
Insufficient data
15 Picos de Europa National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
Insufficient data
16 Kiskunság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
Insufficient data
17 Aigüestortes National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
Insufficient data
18 Sinharaja Forest Reserve 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
Insufficient data
19 Triglav National Park 🇸🇮 Slovenia
Insufficient data
20 Sierra de Guadarrama National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Eurasian Otter in Cairngorms National Park?

About 9% of wildlife watchers report a Eurasian Otter sighting in Cairngorms National Park, based on 16 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Eurasian Otter in Cairngorms National Park?

April has the highest sighting rate for Eurasian Otter in Cairngorms National Park in our monthly data.

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