River Otter Ecology Project
@riverotterecology.bsky.social
We work to create lasting protections for local waterways using community science, research, education, and advocacy. Our ambassador is the North American River Otter – an indicator of healthy waters.
Otters for Waters
https://riverotterecology.org/
Otters for Waters
https://riverotterecology.org/
Pinned
River otter inspecting the pipes...
(photo courtesy of the incomparable Debbie Fier)
(photo courtesy of the incomparable Debbie Fier)
Our word of the day is Kleptoparasitism -- for example, when one animal steals food from another.
Here's a coyote stealing a pelican carcass from a group of river otters.
(Video by Mark Sawyer)
Here's a coyote stealing a pelican carcass from a group of river otters.
(Video by Mark Sawyer)
November 23, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Our word of the day is Kleptoparasitism -- for example, when one animal steals food from another.
Here's a coyote stealing a pelican carcass from a group of river otters.
(Video by Mark Sawyer)
Here's a coyote stealing a pelican carcass from a group of river otters.
(Video by Mark Sawyer)
Big Teeth. Little fish.
(Photo by Kendall Oei)
(Photo by Kendall Oei)
November 18, 2025 at 5:36 AM
Big Teeth. Little fish.
(Photo by Kendall Oei)
(Photo by Kendall Oei)
So many river otters...
(Video and Otter Spotter Report by Sheila M)
(Video and Otter Spotter Report by Sheila M)
November 15, 2025 at 3:21 AM
So many river otters...
(Video and Otter Spotter Report by Sheila M)
(Video and Otter Spotter Report by Sheila M)
This afternoon we watched salmon spawning in our local creek.
No river otters in sight...
No river otters in sight...
November 15, 2025 at 2:59 AM
This afternoon we watched salmon spawning in our local creek.
No river otters in sight...
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.
Yes, it's hard to get any work done when a spotted owl is perched right outside your office window all day.
November 5, 2025 at 3:12 AM
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.
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
(video by an anonymous observer)
#OttersforWaters
November 2, 2025 at 1:36 AM
A romp of river otters on the Verde River, Cottonwood, AZ.
(video by an anonymous observer)
#OttersforWaters
(video by an anonymous observer)
#OttersforWaters
October 17, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Our National Parks are treasures that depend on all of us to protect them.
#NationalParks
#NationalParks
October 1, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Our National Parks are treasures that depend on all of us to protect them.
#NationalParks
#NationalParks
Sometimes a bobcat falls right to sleep in front of your research camera.
1/2
1/2
September 30, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Sometimes a bobcat falls right to sleep in front of your research camera.
1/2
1/2
River otter catches a fish, but her pup nabs it and runs away.
September 17, 2025 at 2:21 AM
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)
(Video by K James)
August 25, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Derelict concrete is a habitat element for these urban river otters.
(Video by K James)
(Video by K James)
Suburban street as a wildlife corridor.
Top-notch Otter Spotting by Taylor R
Top-notch Otter Spotting by Taylor R
August 20, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Suburban street as a wildlife corridor.
Top-notch Otter Spotting by Taylor R
Top-notch Otter Spotting by Taylor R
Strange things happen in the night.
August 15, 2025 at 4:22 AM
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)
(Photos by Trish Carney)
August 12, 2025 at 5:15 AM
Coyote attempts to assume control of the river otters' coot cache, but is met by spirited resistance.
(Photos by Trish Carney)
(Photos by Trish Carney)
July 19, 2025 at 9:09 PM
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...
Before joining ROEP, Katie and her colleagues investigated attempted predation on Northern elephant seal weanlings by coyotes.
www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org/article/atte...
www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org
July 18, 2025 at 8:10 PM
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...
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.
July 16, 2025 at 2:56 AM
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...
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...
Oppose New Shellfish Lease — EAC
www.eacmarin.org
July 12, 2025 at 7:12 PM
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...
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
--Thomas Paine, 1776
July 4, 2025 at 9:22 PM
“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
--Thomas Paine, 1776
Reposted by River Otter Ecology Project
Read the Science #ScienceFriday: www.researchgate.net/profile/Mega...
www.researchgate.net
June 27, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Read the Science #ScienceFriday: www.researchgate.net/profile/Mega...
Reposted by River Otter Ecology Project
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.🧵👇
June 27, 2025 at 8:27 PM
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.🧵👇
Reposted by River Otter Ecology Project
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).
🧵👇
🧵👇
June 27, 2025 at 8:27 PM
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.
Sea otters and river otters may both be mustelids (weasels) with big appetites, but these cousins live very different lives. Sea otters are marine mammals & their diet is specific to marine invertebrates, while river otters move between aquatic & terrestrial habitats and have a more varied diet.🧵👇
June 28, 2025 at 4:49 AM
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...
The river had burned before, but this fire became symbolic of the need for environmental activism.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVNu...
Burn On (2002 Remaster)
YouTube video by Randy Newman - Topic
www.youtube.com
June 22, 2025 at 7:27 PM
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...
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)
(photo by W Legge)
June 21, 2025 at 4:40 AM
River otter and Brown pelican.
(photo by W Legge)
(photo by W Legge)