AN increase in otters raiding garden ponds to feed on fish has been reported in Ulverston.

One concerned resident has now created a Facebook page to help people protect their fish.

Nige Coops, 61, a former operations manager at Barrow shipyard, says he has been inundated with reports since he dealt with his own early-hour visitor.

Around three weeks ago, Nige was awoken by the sound of a high-pitched 'squeal' which came from his wife at around 2.30am.

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"I thought we were being burgled at first", Nige said, "but she'd spotted a dog (male) otter, around two to three meters from the window, diving into the pond.

"It ran out through a hole in the fence but it had killed around four or five goldfish, two Koi and three Northern Gold fish - which is a lot really, awful."

After Nige shared his experience, others came forward to say they had dealt with the aftermath of an otter visit.

One included a friend who was devastated at what he called the 'massacre' of 22 fish. 

Croftlands and surrounding area showing the pattern in sightings and raids  (Image: Ulverston Garden Ponds group) His group, Ulverston Garden Ponds, has recorded and mapped at least 24 reports over four weeks. 

In Birkrigg Common, a man lost rare ducks whilst in Swarthmoor otters were spotted brazenly walking through the streets.

Guts, scales and carcasses have also been found on lawns by people who don't keep fish.

Nige said: "I wondered why they were coming into urban areas.

"I'm a fisherman and I'm quite aware that they're a UK-protected species, but some may not be.

"I wanted to help people and decided to get some advice from The Otter Trust as we don't want to see the otters harmed. 

"In our case, they recommended an electric fence and LED lights which have so far worked great. It doesn't harm them but gives them a small shock.

"I suspect things will get worse in the cold so I think people need to look at their defences - certain things like mesh can be useless and they can easily scale a panelled fence.

"The group is there to offer help and stop any more ponds being raided."

Ben Potterton, from The Otter Trust, says that there's a small possibility they could be American Mink - often mistaken for otters.

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In this instance however, he thinks they are most likely young otters looking for new territory.

Ben said: "The otter is an opportunistic carnivore and a highly intelligent mammal. If they find a new and easy food source, they will continue to exploit this, making garden ponds a particularly attractive option.

"Often animals are displaced due to territorial aggression and can appear in quite odd places.

"In our opinion it's usually young animals that are looking for new home ranges or older animals that have been pushed into suboptimal habitat that cause the problem to pond owners.

(Image: Lucy Mayou) "Unfortunately, otters can be difficult to dissuade, and we would initially suggest something simple, like playing a radio outside as this can often frighten the animal.

"In extreme measures we would suggest an electric fence, like the type used for sheep. This would be a temporary measure and would eventually persuade them to find a new territory.

"Ulverston offers many opportunities for an otter, having scrubland alongside the railway line that offers access through the town, the canal, River Leven and nature reserves on the eastern bank.

"My guess is that otters have always been passing through and that one stumbled across a garden pond full of fish and then searched the surrounding areas."