The Otter

The otter is a carnivorous mammal which is mainly found near or in water bodies.

outter

It has strong swimming skills that enable it to go after the fish in the water. Other than fish, it also feeds on crustaceans and amphibians. In the past, it was quite hard to come across otters in the world as their population had significantly reduced. Their community is now on the rise, and they have spread out over numerous water bodies in the Lakeland. You can tell that an otter has been in the area by their tracks on the banks as they have five toes. Their droppings also contain fish bones and scales and are dark in colour. Either of the two is indicative of their presence.

The Northern Eurasian Lynx

eurasian lynx

This animal was once quite common in Cumbria but following the active hunting of predators, the number of lynx species decreased, and you can come across it in designated areas. It is the largest of all the existing lynx species, and it has a shoulder height of about seventy centimetres on average. Its length can be anywhere from eighty to one hundred and thirty centimetres. A male will weigh about thirty kilograms while a female weighs about twenty kilograms. These carnivorous animals feed on deer, rodents, goats, rabbits, foxes, hares and sheep in their natural habitats.

The Osprey

the osprey

Through conservation efforts and partnership with landowners and volunteers, the osprey finally made a home in the Lakeland region, much to the joy of all people involved in the process. The ospreys occupy their nests during the summers and visitors can watch them hunt for food from different hides along the lake. This species survives on fish and the breeding pairs in the region hunt for food which they use to feed their brood. These birds have been quite rare for a while, but their population is set to increase over time.

The Golden Eagle

the golden eagle

It took a while, but conservationists were finally able to get a golden eagle to nest in the Lakeland region. Plans are underway to lure another bird to the area for breeding purposes in a bid to increase the population of these species. At present, the golden eagle stands as the second largest predator bird in all of the UK. Having one in the Lakeland region is thus a milestone. Viewing the golden eagle is quite tricky, and you’ll be in for a wait before he swoops into the view as he hunts down his prey.

The Peregrine Falcon

the peregrine falcon

This bird stands as one of the fastest predators around the world as it can travel at up to two hundred and forty miles in an hour. This speed enables them to swoop in and ambush their prey and take off equally as fast. They survive on eating smaller birds. Falcons generally nest on cliff ledges, and it is for this reason that hikers should avoid disturbing their habitats. Though there are many of this kind, it is quite hard to spot them, and your best bet lies in waiting until they dive down for a kill.

The Red Kite

the red kite

This bird was one of the species that underwent a lot of persecution that saw it almost go into extinction. The conservation projects in place are what enabled it to survive and increase in numbers after the abuse. It has a reddish-brown hue on its body with black and white wings. Red Kites survive on worms and carrion, and they occasionally hunt for small mammals such as mice. With conservation efforts in play in Lakeland, there is hope that the number of predators will increase over time.