Subject: River Otters and waterfowl
Date: Feb 26 20:30:57 1998
From: arcpress at pacificrim.net - arcpress at pacificrim.net


Several years ago, Timothy Ransom did some independent study on river
otters here in the San Juan Islands while working as curator at The Whale
Museum. I had several conversations with Tim on the subject. On at least
two occasions, once on Orcas Island and again at American Camp on San Juan
Island, Tim witnessed river otters taking waterfowl from the surf. At
American Camp, he watched an adult female bring a "black and white duck"
back to shore and present it to young river otters in her charge. I am not
sure where Tim is now. He was for quite some time Research Director for the
Puget Sound Water Quality Authority. He probably has good documentation for
those sightings.

Susan Vernon
San Juan Island