Eagle-eyed commuters on their way to work this morning were able to catch a glimpse of the city's favourite otter hunting and eating a fish breakfast. 

Known as Oscar, the animal has become popular among locals who walk, kayak and paddleboard along the river where he is often spotted. 

City wildlife expert Liam Smith said: “In the UK we have one species of otter which is the Eurasian Otter.  

“These can live in both freshwater and around the coast – most of the time they live alone as adult males, known as dogs, are quite territorial.” 

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When two otters are spotted together this is likely a mother and a cub as cubs stay with them for the first year of their lives fishing, sleeping and swimming together.  

Norwich Evening News: City wildlife expert Liam Smith runs the Youtube channel A Shot of Wildlife where people can keep up to date with Norfolk’s wildlife City wildlife expert Liam Smith runs the Youtube channel A Shot of Wildlife where people can keep up to date with Norfolk’s wildlife (Image: Liam Smith)

Mr Smith added: “Their diet includes a lot of fish, but they also eat crayfish, small mammals and waterfowl including ducks and geese.  

“To keep healthy they need to eat around 20pc of their body weight in a day.” 

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An otter has an average weight of 15 pounds so need to consume around three pounds of food per day.  

Norwich Evening News: Roach are often found around the Playhouse where Oscar was seen hunting Roach are often found around the Playhouse where Oscar was seen hunting (Image: Liam Smith)

Mr Smith continued: “The Wensum around the city does seem to have a good population of fish, such as the small roach.  

“Otters can move large distances in search of food, and they are sometimes seen in the city, especially in the autumn and winter.  

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"People usually see them at dawn and dusk.” 

Otters never went extinct in Norfolk, but there was a time when a combination of polluted rivers and persecution almost killed them off completely.  

To help boost numbers they were released into the county by the Otter Trust in Norfolk between 1984 and 1997, after which the animals have spread naturally. 

Norwich Evening News: The best time to catch a glimpse of Oscar is dawn and dusk The best time to catch a glimpse of Oscar is dawn and dusk (Image: Kevin Murphy)