The Otters' Tale

The reason this book caught my eye is that otters have returned to Lake Martin, Alabama, and I thought it would be fun to read about them even though they aren't the same species as the English ones.

Simon Cooper kept me mesmerized throughout this book as he weaves the story of Kuschta and her pups within their chalkstream habitat. I found it fascinating reading about what it takes to keep an otter fed considering they don't have fat stores. They tend to be nocturnal, and they are very territorial. There are several lessons I learned I probably could've done without. I learned more than I care to know about their poop called "spraint." Spraint is not only about marking territory. Otters use spraint like we use newspapers, to learn about other otters in their environment including otters just passing through. I also learned how brutal a mama otter can be when nature necessitates that she ostracize one of her pups to the point of death. An otter's life is brutal, especially for the young males without a territory.

But in spite of the harshness of otter life, I enjoyed the book so much, especially Cooper's voice. I also enjoyed learning about the otters' habitat, the chalkstream. There are only 200 chalkstreams in the world, and almost all of them are in England. I also enjoyed reading about how Kuschta and her pups become a part of the rhythm of life for Simon and his family at their millhouse home. The narrative spans the seasons within a year, and the descriptions of the immediate area, the chalkstream, the fields, and the hedgerows are enchanting.

If you enjoy nature writing, I know you will love The Otters' Tale. Even if you aren't normally a nature reader, you might want to expand your horizons and read it anyway!