Easter otter

You otter read this blog.

We had a visitor to the pond today, a Northern River Otter, Lontra canadensis. Technically a member of the weasel family, but I say a member of the cute family.

Some people get bunnies and chicks at Easter, we get an otter?

Otter dinner.

We haven't caught anything in our pond bigger than about 9 inches and along comes an otter and fishes out the biggest pond fish ever, about 15 or 16 inches long. Anybody know what kind of fish this is?

Our pond is about a third of an acre, not so big.

Here, fishy.

Laura and I found the otter in the late morning, but it went underwater right away and we watched it pop up here and there.

Then I went back out in the afternoon and the otter was up on the ice edge with another fish, chowing down.

A big, wild mammal, with teeth.

Sleek and long, it was larger than I imagined it would be. I've never seen one "in the wild." I sat in the sun and watched it, flicking a few telephoto pics.

This was an unbelievable treat for me. Better than chocolate. Because I'm that sort of nature geek.

Positive ID: otter tail.

Naturally, one thinks of the Labrador retrievers one has known.

When the otter noticed me on the far bank, sitting like a Buddha with a camera, it growled a low, steady, persistent growl. I guess to tell me I couldn't have any of its delicious fresh fish. Then it gave up and dove to aquatic safety.

Coming up for air, and to see where the photographer is now.

The otter made very loud sniffing/ snuffling noises, like it was both breathing hard and trying to smell what was going on. It made no sound going into or coming out of the water. It was splashless.

Profile.

It reminded us a lot of a seal.

Otters are reasonably rare, because they have been and still are trapped for their nice fur. I like real fur, aesthetically. It feels good. But I can't imagine choosing a pelt over watching a live otter in my backyard. So trappers, bug off.

The Easter otter of 2008.

We do not live in the wilderness. We are a mile from busy, commercially developed Route 1. We have plenty of neighbors. Our road gets busy at certain times of day.

But we do have 14 acres of land, mostly wet woods, and in the back our property abuts a large undeveloped red maple swamp. A little of it is preserved as conservation land or easements, but most pieces are landlocked old woodlots or too wet to build on (thanks in part to beavers).

We have talked about subdividing and selling either or both the house and the land, to ostensibly solve all our money problems, or just because we're busy like beavers too. Today I was feeling inclined to preserve.

Back at the house, nine turkeys visited the newly snow-melted and exposed earth around the bird feeders, twice. We watched them for a long time too.

Not for the first, or last, time, this poem by Denise Levertov: Sojourns in the Parallel World

UPDATE: John got home from Panama and Venezuela at 2:30 a.m. last night, and this morning got a look at the photos. He says, "Largemouth bass." And so does my brother-in-law Brandon. Thanks, guys! I just didn't recognize one this big from our little pond.

Comments

[Carroll]

How entirely fabulous to have your very own Easter Otter! I have often wondered what bunnies have to do with eggs (Wikipedia just enlightened me, and that has to be one of their more remarkable entries!) and have been thinking all day that, say, an Easter Platypus might be fun for a change. But your amazing real-life Easter Otter has my fantasies beat hands-down!

[Amy]

Carroll, I'm heading out back shortly to see if it's still around. I read they give birth around this time of year, or early April. Maybe we'll have kits! We'll be grandotters.

[margaret]

Lovely photos. I've seen an otter on our lake but never when my camera is with me. Nor would I be able to get such close views.
Sometimes at this time of year I see one on a wide place in the river--from a distance--sitting on top of the ice with his catch.
The closest I've ever got to them was at an Otter Sanctuary in the UK. They had to drag me away, I could've stayed all day. Very playful animals, especially when in pairs.

[Marie]

Watching a wild animal is much better than tv. And nice image captures! That otter is certainly larger than the species we have down here, of which I've never scene except in a zoo. The otters I've have scene are noisy and boisterous, especially when food is involved.

[James]

Maybe you could do a wizarding book spinoff and call the main character Hairy Otter. The next thing you know you'll get a 7-book deal from Scholastic! It then becomes a worldwide sensation and you can spend the rest of your years hobnobbing with J.K. Rowling and pointing at the Queen of England's bank account and giggling at the paltry sum.

[Vicki in MIchigan]

How cool! All we have is squirels (and the occasional chipmunk).

Our paper said that someone found otter tracks near Ann Arbor, some time in the last several weeks. The finder also found a naturalist to go look, and she agreed, "yep, otter."

I would love to see one, some day. Thank you for sharing yours!

[R. Sherman]

Great photos.

You are fortunate to have the ground in order to observe the wildlife. All of our deer disappeared with the development of the woods behind us, much to my kids' dismay. Enjoy it.

Cheers.

[Carroll]

James, "Harry Otter"! (guffaw!)

Speaking of otters!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epUk3T2Kfno
Be sure you watch through to the end where there's an absolute "aww out loud" moment!

[Amy]

James, I otter consider that. Carroll, that is too cute!

The otter is still in and around the pond. It left a catfish head on the ice overnight and it just bagged an even bigger fish an hour ago.

"It's gonna clean out the pond!" said John.

I said, "I'd rather have otters than fish! And we can stock it anyway." So, we seem to be feeding a lot of creatures these days.

[brant]

The fish looks like a Raccoon Perch. That is a pretty common variety here in eastern North Carolina. They are very hard to scale.

Love the otter photos. I am adding you blog to my favorites along with Blue Ridge Blogger.

[Amy]

Hey, Brant. Thanks for favoriting me. We lived in central NC, from 1988 to 1995. And I was born in Camp Lejeune (Jacksonville Naval Hospital) and we lived in a cottage on Topsail Island till I was almost 2.

[brant]

To use a tired cliche, "Small World". I was born raised,and continue to live in Goldsboro. Also,my brother and I have a place on 4th street in Surf City. Your photos are very good. I found the link to your blog on Blue Ridge blog. If you have not checked this one out (and you probably have) this lady lives in Valle Crucis, NC and works in Boone at Appalachian State. Her photo blog is excellent if you are at all interested in the NC mountains. :-D

[Amy]

Brant, Marie at Blue Ridge blog is one of my best old blog friends, even though we've never met in person. I've "known" her for years now, since my first blog. She is a wonderful photographer with a great 'eye' for the world around her.

We lived in Surf City, on Topsail! I haven't been there in about 16 years. I hope it still has that casual beachy feeling.

[brant]

I am afraid it is becoming more and more like Myrtle Beach. Development is going on like there has never been a hurricane. Except for a few places like Batt's Grill, and Surf City Pier, you would not recognize it if you could do like Star Trek and just transport over to it.
I saw your reply on Marie's blog this morning. It's for sure the Otter knew the fish were there even if you did not.
As for Marie, I have never met her in person either, but have followed her blog for years as well. I tried blogging, but it takes up more time than I have to give it right now. Maybe some day soon I will get back to it. But anyway,it is nice to have a new internet friend. I look forward to more of your blog.

[Amy]

Nice to virtually meet you, Brant.

[jo]

The fish experts in my family agree on a perch as well, not a Bass. Mom however is all over the cuteness of that Otter.

[Amy]

I wish I had gotten a better shot of the fish's head, but it was out on the ice.

[leslee]

Very cute! You're lucky to have that land there - priceless. :-)

[Rurality]

We have otters in our ponds too, although for Easter we only had an armadillo. :)

That snuffling-snorting noise the otters make is hilarious, isn't it?! It kind of reminds me of a horse.

[Amy]

Neat, Rurality. I'll check out your blog home. No evidence of our otter the last couple of days, but we're keeping an eye out. Eight mallards this morning.