Thursday, March 31, 2011

River Otter

Last year every time I tried to photograph the River Otter at the millpond, he would hide.  I stopped many days in search of a photo.  He is camera shy.

Millpond March 29 2011

Last Saturday we went by and he was sunning himself on an ice shelf..I was making a quick delivery and did not have my camera.  I hardly ever leave the house without my camera..but every time I do I see something I want to photograph.

Tuesday, whilst doing some spring cleaning I decided it was time to recycle..and made a quick trip to the recycle shed..and just drove by, willing him to still be there..

River Otter March 29 2011

I got him!  He was playing on the ice, he didn’t appreciate me appreciating him.  He went swimming..and even though we watched for quite some time he did not surface where we could see him again.  He can hold his breath for two minutes and can dive forty feet deep in pursuit of delicious fish, muskrats and turtles.  His long sleek body with short legs, webbed feet and a thick tail make him a perfect watery traveler, he can travel up to twenty-five miles in a week.  He doesn’t get cold, because of the oil that coats his hairs..he is for all practical purposes waterproof.  I was thrilled to finally capture him in a photo.

Last year he was here only a short time at ice out..to play and roll around on the ice and flop into the water at the first sign of danger or an old lady with a camera:)

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25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow - an otter! Very very nice picture! Congratulations.

Rita said...

Oh, I love otters!! You are so fortunate to be able to watch one and actually get a picture, too. Awesome! :)

Connie Peterson said...

I saw a glimpse of one here last spring where there was a lot of water. I'd never seen one before! They are really awesome creatures!

Country Gal said...

I love otters they are cute. I have tryed with the otter in our river we have that goes around our village he is a crafty fellow one day I will capture his pose lol funny ,our river is called Otter River and our photography club is also called Photographers of the Otter River ! Great photos . Have a good day !

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Great capture sweetie. They are adorable little critters. I've always wanted to see a river otter while canoein' or on the lake in a boat but have never been able to spy one of the little creatures in the wild. You did good!!!

God bless and have a terrific day!! :o)

Karen said...

Great shot! It's always a great feeling when you go back and the thing you wanted is still there to be photographed.
I'm not quite as good as you yet at yelling 'whoa!' as we are driving along and I see something interesting, but I'm getting there:)

Rae said...

They are funny little critters. We have a number of them around here. It's fun to see them in action. Lucky you getting his picture finally.

troutbirder said...

Mission accomplished! While the snapping turtles usually get the blame these guys got more than their share of my "caught late for breakfast" walleyes over night in the BWCAW...

Lanny said...

Bet will have to come see your fella. She loves our otters and is equally diligent at trying to capture them on camera. It isn't easy. But the sure like to ham it up when there isn't a camera in sight. Maybe they have records and don't want to be found by the CIA or the FBI or the OEOF.

Becca's Dirt said...

Glad he was sunning for a moment for you to capture him in a photo. How neat.

West Side of Straight said...

Great picture. He looks bigger than I thought they were.

lisa said...

That is so cool! I do the same thing, I always carry my camera then one time I think "Oh, I don't need it" and what happens, I see something and wish I would of brought it with me.

LindaG said...

Wonderful picture, Far Side. Thanks for sharing it with us. :)

Anonymous said...

I don't care how old I get, I always wish I had an otter. Of course, he wouldn't want to be "had" by me, but I'd do the best I could to make him happy even if I had to dig a pond. My little dog has, what I call, "otter hands". He actually grasps things in his paws, curls his paws around it, then scoots across the floor using his hind legs. I'd make a fortune on "FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS" if I had the nerve.

Lynda said...

The only river otters I have seen are at the Chattanooga Aquarium. We love watching them swim. They make it look effortless and so much fun.

Linda said...

I've always wanted to see one other than in a zoo. Good catch!

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Only seen otters at the zoo, but here we have muskrats.

Leah said...

Mr Otter is still around - I saw him when returning from town after work today.... Great picture - of the sneaky fella!

Roxane B. Salonen said...

What I love most about otters is their joy in living life in the moment! :) So glad you caught him in action!

Kritter Keeper at Farm Tails said...

oh how fun! to see an otter would be fantastic. i am the same exact way..when i do not have the cam, then of course something awesome shows up...

DJan said...

Isn't it just the way it happens when you don't have your camera with you? Glad you were able to will him to be there when you got back with it. He's quite a good looking fella!

Anonymous said...

Good for you! Is it just one or are there a pair?

L. D. said...

We have a couple of otters that live in the Des Moines zoo. I wished they had a bigger area for them but they raise a family every year and they are so fun to watch.

Pamela said...

last spring I snuck up accidentally on an otter that lives near the diversion dam where I walk. I was shocked and so was it. But I got a couple of cute photos.

Far Side of Fifty said...

dennisranch..I have only seen the lone one..it would be fun to see a pair:)