WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: Caution, otters crossing

That’s a River Otter on the beach at Lincoln Park; Linda Rackner sent us the photo earlier this month. Another reader email brings the sad reminder that you have to watch for these creatures inland as well as on the beach or in the water: Mary and Mike emailed earlier this week to report, “On returning from a walk at Lincoln Park, we saw a car heading north swerve and an otter wiggling out the other side. We stopped, called Seal Sitters, and they said Animal Control was the proper entity to call. So they were called. We presume the otter was dead as it no longer moved. A parking patrol made sure Animal Control was coming. Maybe we need an Otter Crossing Sign for Fauntleroy. Sad to see an otter killed, and there was a cat immediately interested.” They say this happened just south of the south entrance to the south Lincoln Park parking lot. Otters cross roads to get to inland dens – they’ve been seen well away from the water.

5 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: Caution, otters crossing"

  • 1994 September 22, 2021 (7:44 pm)

    At the north end of Lincoln Park near where the gravel comes to an end is a large culvert that goes under the pathway. I have observed otters using the culvert to go under the path from the shore side to the hill side.

  • dhg September 22, 2021 (7:45 pm)

    OMG, that might’ve been my car.  It was midday, as I’m heading north I see something on the road. It’s heavy traffic but I keep back, don’t like tailgating.  It’s large and not moving and I want to swerve around but the road is narrow at that point and there was a steady line of south bound cars.  So I center my car and count on it’s high clearance to slide over it.  But I hear a clunk under me and I look in the rear view and I see an amazing swish of otter tail and it running to the curb.  I’d hit it.  It wasn’t dead, perhaps just dazed and if I’d stopped maybe it would still be here. I am so heartsick.

  • johnny September 22, 2021 (7:57 pm)

    dhg – really appreciate to read your heartfelt reaction.  sometimes things like this can’t be avoided – as sad as it is.  these are beautiful creatures.  you are good peeps – peace to you.

  • BB September 22, 2021 (10:04 pm)

    I’m crying as I read this as this otter has been visiting our and our neighbors yards all summer. It crosses Fauntleroy and visits the row of Tudors houses by the south parking lot. I was sitting looking out my front window at the sunset and saw the otter come up the steps (we are high bank) and into our yard last week. Whenever we talk to our neighbors we always talk about the latest otter sighting. I truly wish I hadn’t read this as I’m so upset. 

  • Rotter September 23, 2021 (9:19 pm)

    I saw a river otter run across beach drive this morning! I’ve driven that road a million times and have never seen one, then I read this post last night, and now a sighting. Weird! He scurried westward and slipped into a yard under a tiny gap in a fence, heading to the water probably. 

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