Good time to look for otter tracks

Now that we have some snow, its a good time to get out and look for otter tracks.

We still have very little information on dispersal to the north/Colorado border and beyond.

I haven't been out looking myself but just wanted to remind everyone that we still need reports.

Thanks- Brian Bari

Gila News from Melissa

Good morning all,

Snowing in santa fe.

OK, I just talked to Jim, and he will send out a more detailed message
soon, but the message is

F&WS wants "several more months" to examine this issue.

They are worried about Gila chub and also Headwaters Chub, want the
Department to do some more monitoring of endangered fish to have a better
baseline of population numbers. They are concerned, of course, about the fish,
but also about getting sued on the fishs' account. They want more data on
potential otter behavior, like using streams of less than 10 cfs. Perhaps
radiotelemeter the animals, perhaps release only a few to start with. And so forth.

Since we are going to come up against the natal season in a couple of months,
we are probably not going to plan on releasing otters into the Gila for another year.

So sorry about all this.

Melissa

Gila River Otter reintroduction

Now that the Upper Rio Grande reintroduction is complete with 33 otters released, the next goal is to return them to the Gila River in Southwest New Mexico. To get involved with this effort contact UGWA through contact given in previous blog.

Meanwhile any sightings of the Rio Grande otters are needed to help us track their movements.

Upper Gila Watershed Otter monitoring workshop

UGWA members and friends,

The River Otter Monitoring Workshop scheduled for December 10 and 11 is full. Registration is now closed.

If there is sufficient interest, we will try to schedule another workshop in the near future.

How will we know if there is enough interest for another workshop? This is where you come in. I am keeping a list of people that are interested in learning to be volunteer otter monitors that could not attend this workshop. If there are enough people on the list, we will work on scheduling another one.

Please let me know at admin@ugwa.org if you would be interested in attending River OtterMonitoring Workshop number 2.

Thanks,

Robin

November otter transplants

This is one of 10 otters captured in Washington State and released on the Rio Pueblo de Taos in November. This brings the number of otters released to 33. (with 3 known mortalities so far) and completes the Upper Rio Grande drainage reintroduction effort.