West Seattle wildlife: Otter-spotting near Cormorant Cove

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

From one of the wonderful photographers who has been kind enough to share their work here: Danny McMillin spotted this otter near Cormorant Cove along Beach Drive Friday night. Gives us another occasion to note that the otters we see here in West Seattle are not sea otters – those are the furry, more compact creatures that live out in the open ocean; these are river otters.

They do spend time out of the water as well as in it, so when you’re driving along Alki Avenue, Harbor Avenue, or Beach Drive, among other close-to-the-water streets, they’re another reason to be extra-watchful.

B-squared April 17, 2011 (1:55 pm)

Orca Network April 13th posting had a great picture of river otters making more river otters on one of the pumps just off the pool. Great shot! surprised i didn’t see it on the blog.

WSB April 17, 2011 (2:33 pm)

B, first I’ve heard of it (I only check ON when whales are reported) but we have no carte blanche to repurpose photos, someone would have had to send it to us or share it via our Flickr pool, which they didn’t, will check it out later … TR

kate April 17, 2011 (4:15 pm)

I saw river otters last week when I was kayaking off of Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook. One was on shore and scurried into the rocks on land.

JH April 18, 2011 (6:53 am)

Otters are a delight to watch from afar, but it’s mating season right now and the otters have been coming on shore and behaving very aggressively at night. If you come across an otter, do not approach it, and do not underestimate its speed or potential to attack. There’s nothing meaner than a horney otter!

DF April 18, 2011 (10:05 am)

Now. Lets get some action taken in the admiral neighborhood Yen Wor/Admiral Pub that corner go take look all those damn cigaret butts they eventually wash into this defenseless animals environment! Also. In the junction front of east street more so the Corner Pocket littered with um! I wish there was a way for them to wash right back down into there own pockets. Wake UP!!