Otter steals thousands of pounds worth of koi carp from couple's Ashurst pond in the New Forest

A HUNGRY otter cost a New Forest couple thousands of pounds in expensive koi carp after raiding their pond and coming back for a second course the next day.

The incident was “upsetting” for Ashurst residents Tony and Karen Stride but hailed as “good news” by conservationists delighted at more evidence of the mammal establishing itself again after previously dying out in the area.

The first, daytime raid by the normally nocturnal creature was captured on mobile phone footage by a neighbour of the Strides.

It could be seen clearing out the pond of 12 koi carp over the course of a day while Tony and Karen were out.

Some of the bodies of the fish were left outside neighbours’ homes with chunks taken out of them.

Tony, who has two other ponds filled with koi carp, was shocked when the next morning he spotted the otter was back for more.

Karen said: “He looked out the window and let out a yell of surprise. The otter was back, heading for the other ponds.

“Tony shot out into the garden to get it to leave.

“It had already taken literally thousands of pounds worth of koi from the other pond.

“We are now going to get something to protect the two others.”

She revealed her neighbour had been feeding the couple’s cat when she spotted something in the pond.

Karen said: “We thought the fish had been taken by herons so we were stunned when we saw the footage.

“It’s upsetting so many fish were killed but it is good to see that otters have made such a comeback to the New Forest.”

She added: “We just hope they don’t make a habit of coming into our garden.”

Professor Russell Wynn, from conservation group Wildlife New Forest, told the A&T otters had died out in the Forest over 100 years ago but had made a comeback in the last couple of decades.

He said: “We know they are in major rivers in the Forest like Lymington and Beaulieu. Before viewing the footage of this attack I had never seen one out in daylight before.

“They are normally only captured on camera trackers moving about at night. But they have been known to wander up to 12km inland.

“It was amazing to see the footage and view the otter in action. It’s obviously not good for the owner or the fish.

“But otters can do good. They displace mink which attack native animals and since they returned to the Forest we have not picked up of them on our cameras.

“The otters also feed on signal crayfish, a species from North America, which can cause erosion to river banks. They also carry a plague which can wipe out native crayfish.

“So, as Mr Stride realised, the fact we have so many otters back is good news.”

He said that for any fish pond owners worried about otter attacks, the best defence is a metal grid over it.