What the otter had for dinner.
5th April 2012: It was a Wilden Marsh workday today, and this was found on the riverbank, by Mike Averill, the Worcestershire Dragonfly Recorder. After much discussion and consultation, we decided that the unfortunate fish was a pike, but we were not absolutely sure. Is it, a pike or a salmon? Someone will confirm, either way, in due course.
Having now looked at the photographs, I think it is a pike.
The fish was quite smelly, so it had been on the bank for a while.
I know these images are a little gory, but this is what happens in nature.
I would have liked to have seen the otter grapple with this carnivore. At a guess, I would estimate the pike’s length at around 600mm (2 feet).
It’s the circle of life.
Indeed! 🙂
Happiness is being higher up on the food chain than your neighbors.
This might be true if you are an otter, Richards.
I would just like to confirm that the fish in question is indeed a pike.
Thank you very much. 🙂
I wonder if the Otter will return for the remains of the fish Mike?
I don’t think it will, Pam, I would imagine the fish is to rancid now.
Looks like a pike to me too. I’ve only seen them in the British series Pie in the Sky (of which I have the full 30 episodes on DVD). It’s amazing what I have learnt from that British series (mainly cooking).
I’m not keen on pike, it’s too muddy for me.
Just out of curiosity, do you leave dead things like this to decompose naturally, or do you clean them up?
Leave it where it is. There is always some animal that will appreciate a free meal. If the carcass is too rancid for most, then the rats will eat it.