REGARDING recent letters referring to the lack of wildfowl at Hardwick Park (HAS, June 11) it is not only Hardwick that is becoming devoid of birds but the majority of North-East lakes, ponds and water ways.

Lorraine Mortimer refers to predation from crows, magpies and herons, whereas the main culprit which goes unseen by the general public, as it kills at night, is the otter.

I wrote last year regarding the over zealous release of otters into the countryside. It was not so much a prediction as to the damage they would cause but a fact.

The organisations that released the otters and continue to release them without giving thought to their actions are the real culprits in this sad situation.

Brian Cowen, Darlington.