An otter cub owes its life to an angler making an early morning visit to the River Ness.
James Buchanan has been making extended visits from his home in Kirkintilloch to the Ness.
Entering the river at the Little Isle Pool on Wednesday morning he heard loud screaming noises coming from the opposite bank of the river, running alongside Island Bank Road.
Mr Buchanan said: “I thought it was a couple of birds of prey screaming at each other.
“But then fellow angler Donnie Cameron pointed out that it was a cub otter which appeared to be in some distress.
“I followed it downstream, crossed the Infirmary Bridge and found it lying partly on the bank. It seemed utterly exhausted and appears to have been separated from its mother and siblings by the high water of last week.
“I got a couple of bites when trying to pick it up so I took off my shirt and wrapped it up in that. It settled down as I walked up to the anglers’ hut. We alerted the SSPCA and an officer came and took it into their care.”
Alex Elliott, president of Inverness Angling Club, which manages the fishery, said: “We enjoy seeing the otters on the river. James did a really good job in rescuing this cub.”
Scottish SPCA animal rescue officer Rachael Fossey said: “It’s quite common for otter cubs to be flushed out when there is wet weather, flooding or heavy rain.
“When I arrived, the otter was lethargic and tired. This could be due to not having nourishment from his mum and the stress of the situation.
“I took the young otter to our National Wildlife Rescue Centre where he will recuperate and when he is well enough, he will be released back into the wild.”
