Press Release: Otter evening supported by local businesses

On the 9 September, at the Ledgowan Lodge Hotel, Achnasheen, Paul and Grace Yoxon of the world famous, Skye based, International Otter Survival Fund (IOSF), will be giving a talk about otters and the work the charity undertakes (the latter includes reintroducing young abandoned, or injured, otters to the wild).

The IOSF was inspired by observing otters in their natural habitat. Because the otter lives on land and in the water and is at the peak of the food chain it is an ambassador species to a first class environment. IOSF was set up to protect and help the 13 species of otter worldwide through a combination of compassion and science. It supports projects to protect otters, which will also ensure that we have a healthy environment for all species, including our own. There are now believed to be around 8,000 otters spread across virtually every part of Scotland.

Otters live mainly on a diet of fish including eels, salmon and trout, but also often eat crabs, frogs and occasionally small mammals and birds. They live beside the sea or by fresh waters such as rivers, lochs and marshes - coastal otters must wash their fur regularly in fresh water to maintain its waterproofing quality. It was made illegal to kill otters in 1981. They are now fully protected by European legislation. They had previously been hunted for sport, their fur, and because they eat fish.

The evening in Achnasheen commences at 7.30pm, admission is by donation (all funds raised during the evening will go towards the upkeep of the baby otters at the IOSF), and during the evening there will also be a raffle of otter related items to further boost funds.

Paul Yoxon makes no charge for his talks - and the evening is being supported by the hotel by offering their function room free of any charge, local artist and author Bryan Islip (of Mellon Charles) has donated a signed print for the raffle, Jackie West Marketing, Achnasheen, has donated framed illustrations of otters (by Duncan Currie), and artist Duncan Currie of Broadford, Skye, has donated a set of illustrated otter cards, various other items have been promised from other members of the local business community.

Funds are urgently needed at the moment, since the beginning of the year IOSF have received 6 cubs which means they currently have 12 otters in care at the sanctuary and only 1 is close to release.

Normally they treat about 10-12 otters per year and would have about 6 in at any one time, so this sudden increase is totally unexpected. As a result the food bills have almost doubled - it costs about £1000 to rear an otter cub and therefore the costs for the current year are running at over £12,000 already. Otter cubs stay with their mothers for 12-15 months so the IOSF have to release the cubs at about the same age - if they are released too early they will not survive. This is why the food bills are so high.

It is hoped that the evening is well supported, and that everyone will be generous either by donations or by purchasing a raffle ticket (or both!) - no amount is too small to buy a fish for an otter.

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Contact information:


Jackie West
Jackie West Marketing
Achnasheen
01445 720212
mailto:jackie@jackiewest.co.uk

Paul and Grace Yoxon
International Otter Survival Fund
Broadford, Isle of Skye
Tel/Fax: 01471 822 487
mailto:iosf2@aol.com
www.otter.org

Craig Duffield, Manager
Ledgowan Lodge Hotel
Achnasheen
01445 720252
mailto:info@ledgowanlodge.co.uk
www.ledgowanlodge.co.uk