Devon Wildlife Trust says it is unusual for an otter to be in a city centre location.
BBC NewsThe otter has been seen in daylight by the River Exe which runs through the centre of Exeter and filmed approaching people on the riverside.Steve Hussey from the trust said it was a good sign of a possible increase in the number of otters."So, to have people come forward with daytime sightings on a busy stretch of city centre waterway is unusual," he said.
"It may be that it has become used to being close to the sights and sounds of people and feels happy to be out and about during the day."Mr Hussey said the otter appeared to be in good health and that its sighting was "a conservation success story". He said otter numbers had "bounced back" from a decline in the 1970s due to "persecution and poisoning from harmful chemical pollution".
Otters are a protected species in UK law and it is an offence to deliberately kill, injure, disturb or capture them. Mr Hussey said: "Anyone coming across an otter in similar circumstances should enjoy the wonderful wildlife encounter, but it's important to do so on the animal's terms.Follow BBC News South West on
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