Completely hijacking the thread here, apologies.
rozinante, I am mad about otters(Lutra Lutra), seen loads of then in the wild. I try to go to the Isle of Skye every year to observe them in their natural habitat. There's an otter haven at Kylerhea, which is almost next to the lane where you get off the Skye Ferry. Skye has otter reflectors along the roads to prevent the otters wandering onto the road and getting run over.
Sandaig is another place where there are lots, you can call there on the way to Skye. You have to find the footpath down to the shore to the site of the house where Gavin Maxwell became self-exiled it's his resting place, his ashes are there and mark the spot where the house was situated.
The otter Edal who also died in the house fire and was based on Midge in Ring Of Bright Water is also buried there.
Sandaig is actually Camusfearna as mentioned in the book, it's well hidden and a long walk down the forest track to get there, but worth it to see where the story all began. There's often a seal bobbing about in the bay there too. The burn that gave the book the name is still there running into the sea.
It really is a fantastic place the pilgrimage is a must for otter fans.
I am also a member of the International Otter Survial Fund, which is a conservation organisation for otters. The HQ is based on Skye and run by a guy called Paul Yoxon and his family.
Details are here http://www.otter.org/otterframes.html
Have you been to the otter rescue centre on the A66, what a windswept place, but you can can up close and personal with them there, they usually have babies (cubs) inside.
In England their numbers have declined somewhat over the years, but fortunately they are making a comeback and population has increased by 520% in the last 25 years.
In your area the Lutra Lutra can be seen along the rivers Wharf, Nidd, Swale and Ure and have very recently been sited on the lower Calder near Dewsbury. Conservation agencies are working alongside environment agencies to make holts for them to assist in the important work of ensuring that the environment is otter friendly to promote an increase in numbers, they want to ensure that all rivers have breeding otters in Yorkshire by 2010.
They are the highest protected species of wildlife in the UK at the moment. 
I hope this info helps you.
Gosh I could rabbit on all day, but they are one of my passions.
I'll shut up now! Sorry for the hijack 
Post last edited on 29/04/2005 12:35:51
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Topic: smallest practical moped?
