Northern River Otter (Lontra canadensis)

During the winter a walk along the West Bay Walkway will enable you to see a half-dozen different kinds of waterfowl. Now that spring in here, however, they are all pretty much gone. There are a few Mallard Ducks and Canada Geese but the Goldeneyes, Buffleheads, Mergansers (Common and Hooded), and Harlequins are all off somewhere nesting and raising the next generation. However, animals that have not been so visible in the winter are now re-appearing. I've seen more Blacktail Deer in the last couple of weeks than I did all winter. And, on the weekend, I saw the fellow above, a River Otter (Lontra canadensis), fishing with a friend in Sailor's Cove. Otters don't hibernate in winter but do apparently spend more time in their holts.