For the first time in 20 years, I was able to get pictures of the otters at Market Lake

1 week ago

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Published astatine 7:42 pm, September 21, 2024

While leaving Market Lake Wildlife Management Area past Saturday, I noticed a ample brownish animal hiding successful immoderate cattails connected nan slope of nan canal starring to Pond #1. At first, I thought it was a very ample muskrat, but arsenic it started to tally on nan bank, I realized that it was a young North American stream otter. It stopped and past I saw 3 heads watching maine successful nan deeper water. It was nan first clip successful complete 20 years that I yet sewage to spot otters agelong capable to get immoderate pictures of them.

The 1 connected nan slope continued to tally and locomotion connected nan muddy statement while nan different three, a mom and 2 youngsters, swam toward nan culvert going to nan Pond #1 area. When nan 1 connected nan slope sewage to nan culvert, it had nary prime to enactment retired of nan water, but it paused, past plunged into nan h2o and followed nan different 3 done nan culver.

As they were swimming, I could spot that nan 1 that liked nan onshore amended than nan h2o and was only astir half arsenic large arsenic nan different young ones. It was nan runt of nan family and to support up pinch nan others, it had to lope on nan statement while nan others were diving and enjoying nan water.

The ones successful nan h2o had traveled astir 200 yards erstwhile they near nan water, ran to nan cattails and entered a spread successful nan slope – astir apt 1 of their dens. The mom waited for nan runt to spell into nan spread earlier she went in. I waited for astir 15 minutes earlier nan big poked her caput out, sniffed nan air, looked some ways earlier wholly emerging from nan den.

They must person been quiet arsenic I had not seen them drawback immoderate prey and they headed consecutive to nan water. All of them isolated from nan runt entered nan h2o adjacent immoderate aquatic plants and instantly surfaced chewing connected immoderate mini fish. I could perceive their powerful jaws crunching connected nan mini catfish that they had caught. The 3 quickly dove again while nan runt started begging for immoderate nutrient but refused to spell into nan h2o to subordinate nan hunt.

Mom was nan first to aboveground pinch a mini food and took it complete to nan begging youngster while 1 of nan youngsters surfaced pinch a larger catfish that it could not control. So, it took it to nan slope wherever it could clasp it pinch its beforehand paws while eating.

For complete a half an hour, I watched nan family person their brunch pinch nan female supplying 3 food for nan runt to eat. It was very absorbing to watch them arsenic they ate perch, chubs and catfish earlier uncovering different den to remainder in.

River otters are good equipped for catching food underwater arsenic they tin adjacent their nostrils and ears to support nan h2o retired while successful nan water. They besides person 3 eyelids pinch nan 3rd 1 being a nictitating membrane, an eyelid that they tin spot through. While chasing nan food successful nan mini area, nan h2o became very dirty, nary problem, nan otters are equipped pinch immoderate stiff whiskers that heighten their senses to find their prey.

As I studied nan trails that nan otters took past Saturday, I saw immoderate aged tracks and signs that were near connected an earlier sojourn to Market Lake. Being a personnel of nan weasel family, otters person scent glands adjacent nan guidelines of their tail and people their territory by having scent posts. Each family claims an area from 3 to 15 quadrate miles that they people arsenic their family property.

What a awesome acquisition to spot and photograph their habits for nan first time. Let maine cognize if you spot them successful nan future. I will besides beryllium watching retired for them.