How does the otter cross the road?

Via a special 'mammal shelf' of course!

A special shelf for otters to safely cross the road is being installed under a bridge in West Sussex.

The local authorities say that otters in this area are travelling on foot across a main road (the A272) to reach breeding grounds instead of safely swimming under bridges.

A new specially designed 'mammal shelf' will be built this summer to allow otters to run under the road on a ledge above the water.

It is hoped this will lead to a reduction in the number of otter road accidents.

The shelf will look similar to this one

The local authority said that there were previously no otters in the area after their decline in population.

However, they are now beginning to bounce back.

Councillor Deborah Urquhart, the council’s cabinet member for environment and climate change, said:

“Cleaner rivers and healthier habitats have seen otter populations bounce back in recent years, however, one of the main dangers facing otters today are busy roads,

Reducing the number of otter road casualties will ensure the successful return of this native mammal to West Sussex waterways.”