TESTS are being carried out on the body of an otter cub over fears that the animals are being poisoned at the River Stour.

The body of the youngster, aged between two and three months old, was discovered close to the river at Iford Bridge by shocked passers-by.

RSPCA officers collected the body and passed it to the Environment Agency for post mortem. The results are expected within the next two weeks.

In another incident just two weeks previously a fisherman reported seeing the body of an otter in the river – the body was washed away before it could be collected and examined.

Dog walkers in the area have told the Daily Echo that they feared their pets could also pick up the poison.

Nicola Howard of Springfield Avenue, Christchurch, who regularly walks her Labradors through Iford Golf Course, said: “It’s worrying for all dog owners as obviously our dogs scavenge and we don’t want them to pick up anything and we don’t want to see the otters go.”

Alan Bradburn said an angler fishing at a nearby weir had described otters as “vermin” and had questioned why they were allowed “to run rife and kill all the fish”.

But Dave Smith, an angler who walks his two dogs near the river twice a day, said: “I’m a fisherman and I’ve fished all my life. The otters were here before us. If they want to live here, why not?”

Nicky Hoar, Dorset Wildlife Trust spokesman, said if tests showed the animal was poisoned then police would be informed.

Otter poisoning incidents are “very unusual”, she said, adding it is possible that they drowned.

Paul Gainey from the Environment Agency said: “There was nothing particularly suspicious, but an analysis will give us a better idea of the cause.

“There are some pretty high flows in the River Stour and the water is quite murky around the Stour.

“It might be something very straightforward,” he added.

Anyone with specific information to suggest that wildlife is being targeted should contact either the RSPCA cruelty and information line on 0300 1234 999 or Dorset Police.

A Dorset Police spokesperson said: “If any incident is reported to police of that nature we will investigate in liaison with our partners.”