8-31-2026

River Otter (Lutra canadensis), members of the Weasel family, equally adept moving over land or under water. This appears to be a mother with a couple of offspring, diving for crayfish in this deep pool, then frolicking on the surface as they chuck them back. ‘Pinch the head and suck the tail’, as they say in the Bayou. When she finally noticed me sitting here, she sort of huffed and growled and called the pups to her and they dove out of sight. Chastened, I retreated and headed back up canyon, leaving them to their peaceful pool. It’s probably good I didnt try swimming here as I had planned, after hearing of a fairly grisly attack an open water swimmer on the north shore of Tahoe suffered the day prior. Weasels are known for punching way above their weight.