So many river otters... (Video and Otter Spotter Report by Sheila M)

This afternoon we watched salmon spawning in our local creek. No river otters in sight...

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.

A romp of river otters on the Verde River, Cottonwood, AZ. (video by an anonymous observer) #OttersforWaters

Our National Parks are treasures that depend on all of us to protect them. #NationalParks

Sometimes a bobcat falls right to sleep in front of your research camera. 1/2

River otter catches a fish, but her pup nabs it and runs away.

Derelict concrete is a habitat element for these urban river otters. (Video by K James)

Suburban street as a wildlife corridor. Top-notch Otter Spotting by Taylor R

Strange things happen in the night.

Coyote attempts to assume control of the river otters' coot cache, but is met by spirited resistance. (Photos by Trish Carney)

Excellent sighting, but not a river otter. riverotterecology.org/become-an-ot...

New publication from our new Program Manager, Katie Ballinger. Before joining ROEP, Katie and her colleagues investigated attempted predation on Northern elephant seal weanlings by coyotes. www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org/article/atte...

Bobcat considers its next move.

A proposed shellfish farm at Brazil Beach poses a major threat to Tomales Bay, a Wetland of International Importance. We're part of the Alliance for Brazil Beach, working to protect eelgrass beds, water quality, and habitat for seals and shorebirds. Learn more: www.eacmarin.org/oppose-new-s...

“If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace; and this single reflection, well applied, is sufficient to awaken every man to duty.” --Thomas Paine, 1776

Read the Science #ScienceFriday: www.researchgate.net/profile/Mega...

Despite the surprising #, pelicans didn’t appear to avoid the lagoon. The study raises key questions-like how pelican carcasses might subsidize scavengers and affect long-term ecosystem dynamics. This research shows how river otters, as a recovering predator species, are playing a dynamic role.🧵👇

New research from @riverotterecology.bsky.social reveals a surprising twist in river otter diet: predation on Pelicans at Abbotts Lagoon in Point Reyes National Seashore. From 2018–2023, researchers documented this predator-prey relationship (73 pelican carcasses recorded during 19 surveys). 🧵👇

A big Thank You to our good friends at @seaottersavvy.bsky.social for highlighting our research into a novel prey choice for California river otters.

While our government sets fire to democracy, the rule of law, and now perhaps the world, we pause to remember that on June 22, 1969 the Cuyahoga River caught fire. The river had burned before, but this fire became symbolic of the need for environmental activism. www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVNu...

River otter and Brown pelican. (photo by W Legge)

It's river otter baby season! Here are some things to keep in mind if you see a mother and her pups.

First river otter pups of the year on one of our research cameras. (The pups are making the chirping sound.)

Proud of my little community today standing up as allies for our immigrant friends and neighbors and our constitution. ❤️

Ready for tomorrow? #NoKings

We River Otter Ecology Project folks are patriots; we believe in the United States Constitution. We value people and our planet. And by golly you know we value our precious waterways. All are under assault by those who care more for money and power than our children’s and grandchildren's futures.

Our new video: Otters for Waters! youtu.be/bfG5kvy3fl4?...

Register for our FREE webinar, July 31 6-7PM Pacific!

YOU BELONG HERE. This trans flag that flew on El Capitan is an epic reminder that queer people belong everywhere—on big walls, on the trails, and serving and protecting our public lands.

River otter mother wrangling her full-of-beans pup... (video by the amazing K James)

Our fabulous #OttersforWaters partners at @elizabethriverproj.bsky.social are celebrating #WorldOtterDay tomorrow at their Ryan Resilience Lab in Norfolk, VA. events.humanitix.com/world-otter-...

Today on #WorldOtterDay, we'd like to thank all the many supporters, volunteers, advisors, and Otter Spotters who continue to make our work possible. If you're able to contribute financially, a little or a lot, we'd gratefully welcome your support. #OttersforWaters donorbox.org/support-our-...

“It’s natural to feel affectionate towards otters, but we need to leave them in the wild so that they can fulfill their ecological role, for them and for us.”

It's a holiday, so no river otters today. Instead we have little birds. Bushtits...

River otter chaos...

A reminder that the deadline for submitting your comments is May 19th. Federal agencies are proposing a change to the ESA that would allow destruction of protected species' habitat.

A lot of otters. Sonoma County, CA. (video by C C)

In 2021-2022, we participated in a study, led by CDFW, that examined 20 carcasses of road-killed river otters. Preliminary results showed 31% had trace exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides. River otters are aquatic predators, suggesting these toxins are present in Northern CA surface waters.

Federal agencies are proposing a change to the ESA that would allow destruction of protected species' habitat. Currently "harm" of protected species includes direct and indirect actions that result in injury or death. Indirect actions, like habitat destruction, would no longer be considered harm.

River otters have a preference for larger, slower prey. This enormous carp is good example. (Otter Spotter report and photo by J Mulder)

Otters mating in Point Reyes National Seashore, California. Otter Spotter report and video by D Bartling. (Caution: Wind noise in video in addition to otter vocalizations.)

New publication: A novel predator-prey relationship between two recovering species. We report results from our baseline study of river otter predation on Brown pelicans at a coastal lagoon in north-central California. www.researchgate.net/publication/...

This morning at Tséyi’ (Canyon de Chelly).

We're proud to be Junior Rangers, and have been since 2016, the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. Explore. Learn. Protect. That's what we do. #ProtectOurParks #JuniorRangers

Six river otters in an urban creek in Northern California. "It was absolute magic!" (Otter Spotter report and video by J Rose)

Our #OttersforWaters partner Friends of the Verde River is hosting their 25th annual Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival April 24 - 27 in Cottonwood, AZ. Our Executive Director, Megan Isadore @magsei.bsky.social, is a Featured Speaker. verderiver.org/events/verde...

Sometimes this happens.