Otters

Britain's cutest wild animals are coming to a town near you. Find out more with our otters web guide.

1. The otters are back in town. Research by the Wildlife Trusts has recorded otters in towns and city centres for the first time in 30 years.

2. The Eurasian otter, Latin name Lutra lutra, is one of 13 species around the world, including the giant otter, which sounds like this.

3. The new city slickers are spreading their claws as a result of improved water quality and greater availability of food. They join the ranks of wildlife in the 'hood, which includes water rats, foxes and hedgehogs.

4. The UK's otter populations have been threatened by several factors: pollution and encroachment by humans; an increase in the mink population; and otter hunting, which was outlawed in 1978.

5. Britain's best known (OK, probably the only) fictional otter, Tarka, sprang from the mind of Henry Williamson, who also wrote the lesser known Salar the Salmon. God knows how he managed to stretch out the exploits of a fish to 209 pages.

6. Williamson set his story about the cuddly young otter (and the not-so-cuddly hunters trying to kill him) in north Devon, where you can follow the delightful Tarka Trail.

7. Bear in mind, though, that Williamson wasn't all sweetness and light. He was also well known as an advocate of 1930s fascist Oswald Mosley.

8. A piece of otter poo is called a spraint. Fact, as David Brent might say. Here's a picture, if your imagination fails you. Apparently, otters use their spraints as a form of communication.

9. If the sight of otter droppings hasn't put you off the little blighters, why not get one of your very own. You can't buy one from a dodgy pet shop and keep it in your bath, but you can adopt an otter - such as PJ here.

10. Got all that? Now test your OQ - yes, that's otter intelligence, folks - with this quiz.