In early August, wildlife photographer Terry Chettle captured an intriguing moment at the Grimsby Wetlands while photographing a green heron. A river otter unexpectedly appeared and playfully interacted with the heron, surprising both Chettle and the bird.
Chettle, a resident of Beamsville, Ont., expressed his amazement at spotting the otter, as they are not commonly seen in the area. When the otter moved to a log and started grooming itself, Chettle seized the opportunity to capture its antics on camera, describing it as a delightful show with the otter sticking its tongue out and waving.
On the same day, Bruce and Laurie Mackenzie encountered Chettle during a walk in the wetland. Bruce Mackenzie acknowledged the rarity of the otter sighting, mentioning that it was possibly the first sighting near the wetlands in recent memory on August 3. Since that weekend, there have been no reported sightings of the otter in the area.
The Grimsby Wetlands, spanning approximately 12 hectares on Lake Ontario’s South Shore, is managed by the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club. Bruce Mackenzie, who works with the club as the wetlands project manager, highlighted the positive implications of the otter sighting on habitat restoration and water quality, citing previous sightings of rare species like least bitterns in the wetlands.
Laura Timms, a program manager at Credit Valley Conservation, emphasized the resurgence of river otters as a conservation success story. The conservation authority has observed a notable increase in otter sightings, with documented reports becoming more frequent in areas such as Rattray Marsh and Jim Tovey Lakeview conservation areas, where otters have even been seen with their pups this year.
River otter populations faced significant declines in the 1800s due to hunting, habitat destruction, and poor water quality. However, efforts to restore degraded environments have led to a resurgence in otter populations across North America, symbolizing a broader success in habitat restoration efforts benefiting various species.
While celebrating the return of otters, Timms stressed the importance of addressing other biodiversity challenges, such as the loss of wetlands that support diverse species, store carbon, and mitigate flooding. She emphasized the need for continued efforts to restore and protect habitats to ensure the thriving of all species and to witness more conservation success stories akin to the otters’ resurgence.
