River Otter Ecology Project
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riverotterecology.bsky.social
River Otter Ecology Project
@riverotterecology.bsky.social
560 followers 750 following 140 posts
We work to create lasting protections for local waterways using community science, research, education, and advocacy. Our ambassador is the North American River Otter – an indicator of healthy waters.
Otters for Waters
https://riverotterecology.org/
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riverotterecology.bsky.social
Habitat comes in many forms...

This urban creek spillway spills river otters.

(Video and Otter Spotter report by Courtney C)
December 4, 2025 at 3:57 AM
riverotterecology.bsky.social
Feeling badgered on #GivingTuesday?

There's an otter way:

River otters are indicators of something bigger: the health of our watersheds, the resilience of ecosystems, and the impact of restoration. Plus they are adorable (just like badgers).

donorbox.org/support-heal...
December 2, 2025 at 6:18 PM
riverotterecology.bsky.social
River Otter Play Time...

(video and sighting report submitted to our #OttersforWaters partner @elizabethriverproj.bsky.social by Tammy B)
December 1, 2025 at 10:18 PM
riverotterecology.bsky.social
Our word of the day is Kleptoparasitism -- for example, when one animal steals food from another.

Here's a coyote stealing a pelican carcass from a group of river otters.

(Video by Mark Sawyer)
November 23, 2025 at 6:57 PM
riverotterecology.bsky.social
Big Teeth. Little fish.

(Photo by Kendall Oei)
River otter has mouth wide open with a little fish inside.
November 18, 2025 at 5:36 AM
riverotterecology.bsky.social
So many river otters...

(Video and Otter Spotter Report by Sheila M)
November 15, 2025 at 3:21 AM
riverotterecology.bsky.social
This afternoon we watched salmon spawning in our local creek.

No river otters in sight...
November 15, 2025 at 2:59 AM
riverotterecology.bsky.social
In case you were wondering...

Yes, it's hard to get any work done when a spotted owl is perched right outside your office window all day.
Spotted owl perched on a branch of a coast live oak tree.
November 5, 2025 at 3:12 AM
riverotterecology.bsky.social
A romp of river otters on the Verde River, Cottonwood, AZ.

(video by an anonymous observer)

#OttersforWaters
November 2, 2025 at 1:36 AM
riverotterecology.bsky.social
#NoKings
October 17, 2025 at 9:10 PM
riverotterecology.bsky.social
Jack Scheinman, who took that photo, reported the sighting through our Otter Spotter web portal back in 2022.

Here are a couple of other photos he submitted along with his sighting report.
River otter with a leopard shark in its mouth. River Otter with a leopard shark in its mouth.
October 4, 2025 at 3:03 AM
riverotterecology.bsky.social
7 river otters walking along a beach at sunset.
October 1, 2025 at 3:29 AM
riverotterecology.bsky.social
Our National Parks are treasures that depend on all of us to protect them.
#NationalParks
A Message for National Park Visitors During the Shutdown With many National Parks operating with limited or no staffing during the government shutdown, now is the time to be the best visitor you can be. Pretend there's a ranger right beside you, giving you that friendly smile (as they do), and follow these essential guidelines: 1. Pack it in, pack it out. Trash services may not be available-take everything home with you. 2. Yes, that includes human waste. Don't leave it on or near trails. Learn proper disposal methods (in the first comment). 3. Respect no-dog signs. No exceptions, no excuses. These rules protect both wildlife and your pet. 4. Practice ethical wildlife photography. If an animal is looking at you or changes its behavior, you're too close. Back away and give them space. After a busy summer season, wildlife deserves peace in their own home. 5. Be kind, be courteous, share best practices with others. Our parks are treasures that depend on all of us to protect them. Let's show them the respect they deserve.
October 1, 2025 at 3:29 AM
riverotterecology.bsky.social
2/2
September 30, 2025 at 3:49 AM
riverotterecology.bsky.social
Sometimes a bobcat falls right to sleep in front of your research camera.

1/2
September 30, 2025 at 3:49 AM
riverotterecology.bsky.social
River otter catches a fish, but her pup nabs it and runs away.
September 17, 2025 at 2:21 AM
riverotterecology.bsky.social
Derelict concrete is a habitat element for these urban river otters.

(Video by K James)
August 25, 2025 at 1:52 AM
riverotterecology.bsky.social
Suburban street as a wildlife corridor.

Top-notch Otter Spotting by Taylor R
August 20, 2025 at 2:20 AM
riverotterecology.bsky.social
Strange things happen in the night.
August 15, 2025 at 4:22 AM
riverotterecology.bsky.social
Coyote attempts to assume control of the river otters' coot cache, but is met by spirited resistance.

(Photos by Trish Carney)
Coyote on a shoreline with its head down to take a coot stashed in in the water. A river otter is running toward the coyote. Another river otter is in the water. River otter chases off coyote.
August 12, 2025 at 5:15 AM
riverotterecology.bsky.social
Some days later...
July 24, 2025 at 12:36 AM
riverotterecology.bsky.social
Excellent sighting, but not a river otter.

riverotterecology.org/become-an-ot...
Picture of yellow-bellied marmot standing on a rock next to a small granite boulder the size of a small granite boulder, with the trunk of a tree in the background.
July 19, 2025 at 9:09 PM
riverotterecology.bsky.social
Bobcat considers its next move.
July 16, 2025 at 2:56 AM
riverotterecology.bsky.social
We don't mean to be scolds, but videos like this send the wrong message. Otters are wild animals, and the illegal pet trade is problematic for a number of the 14 otter species around the world.

Here's a video of wild baby river otters with their mom, where they belong. They're cute too.
June 29, 2025 at 1:37 AM
riverotterecology.bsky.social
River otter and Brown pelican.

(photo by W Legge)
June 21, 2025 at 4:40 AM