I'm interested to hear your encounters with otters over the years, as they are a fascinating creature but unfortunately very hard to see.
If you have been lucky enough to see some, where did you see them? Did you manage to get any photos?
I would add my experiences, but the otters I have seen have all been in the state of Washington! If you'd like to hear about that, I'd be happy to talk about them
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Kingfisher
It would be great to hear about your experiences from Washington! I've never seen an otter in the wild and I'm interested in learning more about how they live.
A few years ago, I was walking along my favourite trail, known as Big Soos Creek Trail. This was quite early in the morning, as I had just gotten off work (at 6.30 am). It was still dark, and quite cold, as it was around mid-February. I heard a very unusual noise, as if there was something large splashing in the creek. The trail parallels the creek, but there are a few spots where bridges cross the stream, and I happened to be close to one of the bridges. I thought it actually might have been a person who had fallen in the creek, and might have needed help, although no one was calling out...
I stood on the bridge and peered over the side. Not more than a couple of feet away from me were two river otters! I was shocked, to say the least. I had never before seen otters in the wild, and to see them so close was absolutely brilliant. They were not at all bothered by my presence, and although they were heading downstream away from me, they turned around and looked quite calmly at me for a few seconds, then turned back around and headed downstream again.
It turned out that river otters do come up Big Soos Creek at certain times of the year. Big Soos Creek is a salmon stream, and they were feeding on spawned out salmon. I have only seen them once since then in Big Soos Creek, and did not have nearly as good a look. It's the closest I have ever come to a live animal (of that size) in the wild.
River otters, whilst not 'common', are actually frequently seen in this state, as long as one is looking in the right spot. I've seen river otters in other locations since that encounter, but the first sighting was still the most exciting.
I've also seen sea otters in the wild off the coast of Washington State, but my encounter was not nearly as dramatic as looking at river otters only a couple of feet away!
Kingfisher
I stood on the bridge and peered over the side. Not more than a couple of feet away from me were two river otters! I was shocked, to say the least. I had never before seen otters in the wild, and to see them so close was absolutely brilliant. They were not at all bothered by my presence, and although they were heading downstream away from me, they turned around and looked quite calmly at me for a few seconds, then turned back around and headed downstream again.
Kingfisher
You are very lucky! Like I've said I have never seen otters in the wild and have always wanted too - but to see two close up like that would be a dream come true.