Otter sightings draw crowds to Bradford's riverbanks.

A family of at least three otters has been seen along the River Aire and the nearby Leeds & Liverpool Canal between Shipley and Saltaire, and Canal & River Trust staff are helping visitors observe them without disturbing the animals.

Wildlife watchers have been gathering on the banks of the River Aire and the Leeds & Liverpool Canal near Shipley and Saltaire after recent sightings of a small group of otters. At least three of the animals have been reported in the area in recent weeks. Canal & River Trust staff have been present to support public viewing while aiming to minimise disturbance. The sightings have drawn attention to ongoing conservation and monitoring work for otters in the region. Observed details: - At least three otters have been seen in recent weeks in the River Aire and the nearby Leeds & Liverpool Canal between Shipley and Saltaire. - Canal & River Trust staff, including community engagement coordinator Sharron Bright, have been helping members of the public spot the animals without disturbing them and have given individual names such as Otto, Ophelia and Oscar. - The trust has reported that members of the public should not feed the animals, keep away from the water's edge and keep dogs on a lead. - Emily Cowell, an ecologist at the Canal & River Trust, leads the trust's annual otter survey, which is now in its tenth year. - The trust plans to expand the citizen science otter survey to other regions, including Yorkshire, in 2027. The Eurasian otter is the only otter species found in Europe and has recovered in many parts of Britain after mid-20th-century declines; otters are fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and are listed as a priority species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework, according to the Mammal Society. Summary: The recent sightings have prompted local interest and are being managed with guidance from Canal & River Trust staff to reduce disturbance to the animals. The trust will continue monitoring through its otter survey program and intends to roll the survey out to additional regions, including Yorkshire, in 2027.