By Megan Isadore, Executive Director, River Otter Ecology Project
August 24, 2017
Some days start out well and get better. I love taking our partners out to seek otters. We don’t always see them, but we always see interesting and beautiful things because… it’s usually a national park. So it’s beautiful and it’s rich in a way that can only happen when land is protected, however imperfectly. It’s been set aside for the wild and for us, the people. Very little is set aside for either group anymore, and the national park workers and supporters are all doing our best to ensure the parks are preserved for the future. It’s harder than it used to be, and we need everyone to help.
The guest van pulled up right on time and disgorged five cheerful people who love every single thing about nature, from little dung beetles to what I call Christmas thistles, grayish green and the shoutiest bright pink flowers ever. The folks from Lagunitas Brewing Company have titles like “Beer Fairy” and “Pony Rides by Appointment.” I like that too.
Quail by Keith Hansen
We started out talking about the coolness that is California quail. They are our state bird, and yes, they are common. And oh boy, are they worth a second look or 10! Two quick quail facts: Mom and Dad quail talk to their chicks in their shells….so that the chicks can imprint upon their voices and come out knowing where safety is by their calls! And….the chicks communicate with each other while their shells are touching, and can slow down or speed up their hatch time so they all hatch together! When you are a tiny fluffball who needs to keep up immediately, these are important survival skills. Knowing this stuff keeps us happy all day.
Rabbits are all over on the trail, and we marvel at how relaxed they are with us. They continue to nibble until our group gets close….then head into the shrubs in little puffs of dust. We think about rabbit life and all those hungry predators, from raptors to coyotes to quick and lithe long-tailed weasels, who want to eat them. And we love how bravely they forage on the path…..no big deal, their furred ears seem to say, just twitching a little at each sound. If something scary approaches, they’ve got that protective coyote brush, lupine and all those thistles to impede their predators and help them escape.
Then, from out of the reeds about 20 feet from the pup strolled a coyote….as bold and relaxed as any song dog out for a midday stroll. Did Coyote smell the fish? We know at least one local coyote steals from the otter larder (see the previous blog post for a wonderful recounting and photos by Trish Carney). Could this be the same one? Did otter pup have anything to worry about? None of the adult otters appeared to notice, but with one far out fishing and the two around the corner and out of sight, they may not have known the coyote was there. The pup certainly seemed unconcerned and continued eating for a few seconds, then slipped into the water and swam out about 10 feet.
The coyote sniffed at the fish, then rolled in it. So rude to get sand in any bits that were left for the little otter! Then s/he strolled away up the beach, again leisurely and relaxed. Coyote looked well-fed and fluffy. Otter pup followed the coyote all the way up the beach, about 10 feet out from the shore, until the coyote moved off up the hill. We wondered to each other…would the coyote have hurt the otter pup? The coyote showed no interest in the otter; only in the fish remains. Clearly the coyote and otters “know” each other. But in what way do they experience each other? So much of nature is a mystery, the kind that only unfolds to us over years of observation.
Sarah Jane, Michelle, Jim, Natalie and Norm toast to the otters, the day and the planet!
We feel lucky to have generous supporters like Lagunitas Brewing Company contributing to our work. We’re also grateful to to our volunteers, Otter Spotters, remarkable photographers and observers like those featured in our pages, helping watch over our protected and unprotected places.