Otter Perspective
curiousity
Otters are part of life near Kootenay Lake. I have seen otters sliding down slopes into the Kootenay River, seen their fishy scat on the shore, found dens, and watched a family of seven otters swim and play near Creston. I have even seen an otter tackle a raccoon. The otter won. An otter may appear only as a sparkling wake. A sleek head above water, then the back followed by the tail – all disappearing quickly into the water. The wakes of a group of swimming and playing otters on a sunny day are quite marvelous. They have a wonderful pelt that keeps them dry and warm and a fierce intelligence.
enjoying a good fish meal
How does an otter see the world? Imagine swimming under water – chasing fish; diving; sliding, playing and wrestling with other otters and watching out for predators. Maybe otter life is a ballet of swimming, sliding and chasing. It would be great to be an otter for a day. An otter’s view of the world would put my own in an entirely different perspective. It might even improve my swimming!
Looking for her youngster
An Otter den occupied in the spring of 2011
Tracks on a hill where Otters have been sliding
All photos and writing on this blog copyright J.A. Siderius, 2012
Hi Joanne Great pics. I haven’t figured out my new-ish camera well enough to get these motion pics. Anyway — otters. I love them. But I rarely see them. I did see a pair awhile back down in that amazing beaver complex below where the bridge crosses the Canal. They kept swimming back to where we were and jumping up out of the water to look at us — very curious. Also one of my co-workers saw a pair swimming under the Slocan Park bridge. Johnny Braun, an old trapper who lives out here, swears the river is full of them, and he calls them “river wolves” and will have no truck with those of us who think they are a gift to the universe. I would love to see more of them. Beavers are a lot easier to spot. More common, I think, and slower. Maybe they have different habits, too. Moe Lyons
Hi Moe-
I have seen otters where the bridge crosses the canal too – and beavers. River wolves, eh? Anyway, I am looking forward to seeing my next otter!
– enjoy the winter!