River otter in marsh pond

December 18, 2013 by Mike Powell

On Monday I was checking out what looked to be a beaver lodge at one of the ponds at my local marsh, when suddenly a head popped out of the water. It was not a beaver–it was a Northern River Otter (Lontra canadensis laxatina). I was amazed (otterly amazed, you might say), but had the presence of mind to capture the moment with my camera.

I had been told that otters occasionally had occasionally been sighted at the park and that very day I overheard part of a conversation about otter scat, but I never expected to actually see an otter myself. (The conversation revolved around some scat on the boardwalk, and how it was almost certainly from an otter, because of the fish scales and shells in in it).

The otter turned his head in all directions, surveying the situation. Then all too quickly, the otter submerged itself and swam away.

Posted in animals, Nature, Photography, Portraits, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Alexandria VA, beaver, Canon 50D, Canon 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens, Huntley Meadows Park, Lontra canadensis laxatina, Northern River Otter, otter | 21 Comments

21 Responses

on December 18, 2013 at 6:31 am | Reply New Hampshire Gardener

Wow-I’m amazed by the wildlife you see in that marsh. Otters are rarely seen and you got some excellent photos of him. I wonder if he’ll stick around.
- on December 18, 2013 at 6:37 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  I think they tend to be transients, but I am going to keep my eyes open. The park is about 1500 acres, so it’s pretty big and has a varied habitat. Construction on a big wetland restoration project is almost complete and the result will be more wetlands and maybe some new birds and other critters.
on December 18, 2013 at 9:41 am | Reply Joe Schelling

Kudos, Mike! I agree – great shots of an aquatic mammal I don’t recall ever seeing in the wild.
- on December 19, 2013 at 4:04 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Joe. I continue to be amazed at the diversity of wildlife in our suburban marshland park. Who knows what I could see next?
on December 18, 2013 at 12:00 pm | Reply nliakos

Wow, what an amazing experience! I’d love to see an otter in the wild. These photos are great. What a cute little face!
- on December 19, 2013 at 4:03 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. I have seen river otters in the zoo and never imagined that I would see one in the wild (and get a few photos of the experience). This is certainly an encouragement for me to spend even more time walking in the woods with my eyes open.
on December 18, 2013 at 12:17 pm | Reply waltersanford

Handsome otter! He ought to be in pictures, as the old saying goes. Wait, he *is* in pictures! Frustrated I am. Now everyone I know has seen/photo’d an otter at HMP. Except me. Undaunted, I’ll keep hunting the elusive great white whale!
- on December 19, 2013 at 4:01 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  We both tend to be opportunistic shooters–your whale may be closer than you think.
on December 18, 2013 at 12:27 pm | Reply dianaed2013

What a capture and love the reflection
- on December 19, 2013 at 3:57 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. I really couldn’t have asked for better conditions to get a nice shot of that beautiful otter, including the favorable light that helped provide the reflections.
on December 18, 2013 at 1:25 pm | Reply krikitarts

Luck really favors the persistent–and the prepared! How fortunate for you that this elusive fellow chose to appear just at the right time for you, and your finely-tuned reactions kicked in to capture a great memory. A fine fellow!
- on December 19, 2013 at 3:55 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Gary. I will admit to being persistent and am working on being prepared. Still,I was amazingly lucky to be in a decent position to get a shot when the otter head popped up.
on December 18, 2013 at 3:14 pm | Reply Sue

I read somewhere that otters can take over beaver lodges, so maybe they are moving in to your favorite spot, and you’ll see them again. Good timing on your part, being there at the right time.
- on December 19, 2013 at 3:53 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Sue. I have done some reading since I took those shots about the interrelationship between beavers and otters. Apparently the habitat the beaver creates is good for an otter too and they don’t really compete for food. Some sources say they can coexist (other than the fact that occasionally an otter may eat a beaver baby).
on December 18, 2013 at 3:30 pm | Reply naturesnippets

Congratulations! I can count the times I’ve seen otters on 2 fingers
- on December 19, 2013 at 3:50 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, for the moment you have me beat by one finger. It was a case of amazing luck to see this one, but I am reading up on otters to be able to identify signs of the presence of one if I come upon them in the future.
  - on December 19, 2013 at 11:06 am naturesnippets
    
    Being out sure improves the odds. One of the otters I saw was a partial albino that walked through my yard! blogged it.
- on December 19, 2013 at 3:50 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, for the moment you have me beat by one finger. It was a case of amazing luck to see this one, but I am reading up on otters to be able to identify signs of the presence of one if I come upon them in the future.
on December 19, 2013 at 10:33 am | Reply Ed

Well if he is’nt happy………He otter be..:-)))
Excellent shot..
- on December 21, 2013 at 5:46 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thank, Ed. You share my warped sense of humor–I like that in a person.
on December 19, 2013 at 11:37 am | Reply Round River Reflections

This is such an incredible find, I am so happy that you got to experience this… pixel memories to boot!