No happy ending after otter captured in Aberdeenshire town

An otter that was captured after running loose in a small Aberdeenshire town has been euthanised because it was judged too unwell to recover and survive.

Footage posted on social media shows police officers becoming involved in the operation to help the mammal which had been cantering down a road in Inverurie.

A police van could be seen swerving to a halt and an officer jumped out to contain it in a garden before animal rescuers arrived with a net.

The otter was later examined by a vet who found it was injured and nearing the end of its natural life and a decision was taken to put it to sleep humanely.

Harper Eagles, who works at the New Arc wildlife centre at Ellon, was one of two rescuers who managed to capture the animal on Saturday afternoon.

The 25-year-old told BBC Scotland it was not his first encounter with a wayward otter, but that this one was "quite feisty".

Paul Reynolds, manager of the New Arc wildlife centre at Ellon, later explained that it was unusual for an otter to run into a busy area, and its poor state of health may have been an explanation.

He said the otter had lived a long life and was clearly very old.

Despite appearing quite lively and being able to run around, the otter was found to be "skin and bone" up close and was nearing the end of its natural life.

Reynolds said it appeared that he had "got into trouble with a younger, fitter otter" and had sustained injuries to its face and legs.

Inverurie, located at the confluence of the River Don and River Urie, is no stranger to otter incursions, with Eurasian otters native to the area.

In 2019 a baby otter was found in the town, thought to have become separated from its mother during flooding.

On that occasion the pup was rescued by the Scottish SPCA.