Animal rescuers release pictures of otter caught in illegal trap

Otter trapped in snare Credit: Secret World Animal Rescue

The animal was found trapped by a snare at Bleadon near Weston-super-Mare. The otter, which was an adult male, was taken to a veterinary hospital but despite appearing in a stable condition at first, it suddenly deteriorated and died two days later from internal bleeding.

According to Secret World Wildlife Rescue, the snare appeared to have been deliberately placed to catch otters and a stake had been driven into the mud in order to secure it.

Snare which trapped otter Credit: Secret World Animal Rescue
Dying otter at rescue centre Credit: Secret World Animal Rescue

A £300 reward for information about what happened to the otter has been offered by the UK Wild Otters Trust. Anyone with news regarding the setting of the snare should call 101 and contact wildlife liaison officer PC Peter Wills.

You can see footage of the otter at Secret World before he died below: