Otter Tales

[Riosacandaga]

Saturday I was kayaking the Middle Branch of the Sacandaga. After the road side falls there is a series of ledges and then some rapids before it becomes just fast moving water with some channels between some islands. Right before the long section of slow water before Austin Falls. As I came down through a channel I got splashed in the face with water. Hmm I thought as I wiped the water out of my eyes, I wasn't expecting that. And then POW a slap and more water as I saw a flash of brown. Then in the eddy I spyed the culprit; an OTTER. He climbed up the bank and disappeared into the brush.
On Goodluck Lake , years ago, we had an Otter acompany us all the way across the lake, diving under the boat and resurfacing and diving again and again.
A few years ago, on the Rogue River in Oregon I had an Otter actually clamber up on the bow deck of my kayak and slide back into the river. This was in a class III stretch above Brainey Falls.
So that is the extent of my Otter tales.

[poconoron]

I've seen otter on several occasions here in the Pocono area. They are seemingly always playing by sliding into the water off of mud banks or large rocks.

Otters were confined to my area of northeastern Pa. during recent decades since they were trapped out in other areas. Now the Pocono otters have been restocked in other parts of the state. such as northcentral Pa. where they are now doing well.

A fun-to-watch and beautiful creature........