Otter sighting at Taos Junction Bridge

March 24-

My first otter sighting since the release!

It was a very brief sighting, and not a satisfying look. It was 11:30 am, right below the Taos Junction Bridge. It was foraging in the eddy of a mid-river rock. I watched from about 100 yards away with my binoculars as it dove a few times, then moved away towards the bridge. I ran up to the bridge hoping for a better look, and a photo, but it disappeared completely. I stayed in the area for a few hours and rechecked the river from time to time, but never saw it again. It may have gone into a beaver den or rock cavity near the bridge. I searched for tracks in the area but didn't find any. This is a very busy area and there was a group of canoeists(and 2 dogs) preparing to launch about 50-75 feet from where the otter was, who didn't see it. Unfortunately I didn't get a photo. In hind sight I should have stayed in the truck and just watched.

The river is running very high (1100cfs) and most of the beaches and mud bars are under water.

There were two other sighting reports in the last couple of weeks. One nearby in Orilla Verde, and one on the Rio Pueblo de Taos near Ranchitos Road.