I had mixed emotions the other day when seeing a dead otter beside the main road not far from home. Even though it had been killed on the road, I still was pleased to see it.
The local environment showed a remarkable recovery after the de-industrialisation of the 1980's and the closure of the Mining Industry and dependent services, etc, although it's hard to see the benefits when surrounded by devastated communities and shattered lives. Without a doubt though, within a few years there were runs of salmon and sea trout unheard of within living memory; the streaks of kingfishers and sign of otter on the rivers; osprey giving surprise appearances over local lochs; buzzards and other raptors everywhere you looked and fox, roe and badger, et al, pioneering formerly industrial waste-lands. A sight to behold indeed, and one that must have been witnessed from Fife to Kent.
Unfortunately, and within 15 years of the pit closures, the trend of surface coal extraction has expanded at a frightening rate and is far more destructive than deep-coal mining and steel production ever were. Past experience is a breath of hope for the future, but I never a thought I'd see the day that even a dead otter was a good sign!
Ronnie,
I too followed an otter in Knoydart. I found its tracks after it had checked out my tent early one morning and I followed it up the north-western track to Ladhar Bheinn. I lost him at about 2,500 feet, but when I looked back down the track I discovered he'd given me the slip and was 100 yards away lolling back the way he'd come.
I'd swear he had a smirk on his face when he turned to make sure I knew I'd been outsmarted!
