A FAMILY of otters was spotted splashing in Galmington Stream in Taunton yesterday afternoon (January 6).

Staff at Somerset Wildlife Trust saw the family of otters – consisting of a mother and two cubs – outside their headquarters in the town.

They captured the moment they spotted the family on a video on social media.

“This exciting scene was witnessed by several members of our team, and although it was incredible to see otters so close in such a central part of the town, it presents us with a really important reminder about our waterways,” a spokesperson said.

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“The video shows how the dedicated mother and her cubs were really struggling to swim upstream against the strong flow of water.

“Although otters are excellent swimmers, strong currents can pose problems for mothers with cubs, and unfortunately otter cubs are often separated from their mothers during conditions like this.”

The trust said the natural river edges of Galmington Stream gave these otters the opportunity to take a break from swimming and recover their energy.

“Artificial canalised channels usually don’t have riverbanks like this, causing problems for species like the otter,” a spokesperson added.

“We were absolutely delighted to see these otters alive and well, living beside our county town, but it is yet another reminder that we need to look after our waterways!”.

Keep an eye on the Somerset Wildlife Trust Facebook page for updates.