Film | Otter mum prepares cubs for life on their own

These otter cubs are almost the same size as their mum and still suckling. Time for mum to teach them essential survival skills and begin the process of separation.

I spent a week watching an otter mum prepare her cubs for independence on the Isle of Mull in Scotland. The scenery here is stunning, and you can enjoy it all in 4K.

Male otters hold large territories which they mark with 'spraints'. These are easy to spot because they fertilise the soil beneath which in turn prompts the grass to grow into mounds. By following the spraint mounds, I soon spot the dominant dog otter.

But it's a six mile trek along the coastline before I find a female with cubs. This family appear to be living under some rocks by the shoreline where the female can easily take her cubs out foraging. This is known as a nursery holt. It's amazing to see how the family hunt as one, with the female in the lead and the two cubs streamlined behind her. They move through the seaweed looking for crabs, fish, and even octopus, slipping through the water almost as one. The mother is teaching her cubs to hunt. In another two months, they will be a year old and fending for themselves. In the meantime, they still depend on her to provide food for them as well as to suckle. The toll on mum is beginning to show, she looks thin and is clearly tired. It won't be long before she pushes them out of this territory. In the meantime watch her try to hang on to her own catch, and take time out for a nap.

The cubs are still making sense of the change in mum and when she doesn't respond to their calls they look worried. But they are also developing fast. Already the male cub is a proficient hunter and it's fun to watch them play together whilst mum recuperates. But these cubs are still vulnerable. There are white-tailed eagles in the skies above and these huge birds can kill otter cubs. Dog otters are also a threat, especially to the young male. Thankfully the dog otter holding this territory is actually their father. Once reunited the otter family begin grooming. This is an essential part of an otter's daily routine, it reinforces family bonds and keeps their fur clean. But it also plays an important role in keeping them warm. As the otters lift the fur they trap a layer of air close to their bodies which insulates them from the cold water. This is why you see a tell-tale trail of bubbles when an otter dives, it’s the air being slowly released!
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