Welcome back, otter: Critter seen frolicking in Cuyahoga Falls river -- a first in decades

[EYESORE 9001]

(snip)

The park district has historical accounts dating back to the 1940s of river otters inhabiting the Gorge Metro Park just upstream.

But like a lot of things — including fish — neglect and pollution in the Cuyahoga River drove wildlife away.

The river's rebirth has changed all that, so things like river otters are becoming more common in the region.

Johnson said river otters in Summit County are about as common as coyotes calling this area home too.

https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2022/04/14/river-otters-return-cuyahoga-river-downtown-cuyahoga-falls-first-time-decades-sheraton/7302223001/

I’ll take all the good news I can get.

[whistler162]

1. Wonder if it was near the horse shack?

[EYESORE 9001]

2. Close to Epstein Bagels

[2naSalit]

3. Otters means there are fish.

That's a good sign.

[EYESORE 9001]

4. Pretty impressive

in a river that was given up for dead not that long ago.

[2naSalit]

6. I remember.

I also recall many severely polluted rivers in New England back then. There were some you had to close the windows in your car to drive over the bridge without gagging from the chemical stench. Riding your bike across was not recommended, you might not make it all the way to the other side.

Wasn't the Cuyahoga the river that caught on fire a couple times?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. Yes, it was. Don't remember when, though.

[2naSalit]

11. June 22, 1969...

Though it had caught fire at least 11 times before that beginning in the mid 1800s.

Found this interesting article from last year, apparently it caught fire just last year!

https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/environment/cuyahoga-river-fire-2020-1969/

[Walleye]

12. " The Lord can make you overflow but the Lord can't make you burn"

“Burn On”
https://m.

[JohnnyRingo]

18. Thanx for reminding me.

I haven't heard that for a long time.

[Walleye]

20. I'm sort of a Randy Newman fan. Lately I've been thinking of "Political Science"

We may not be perfect, but heaven knows we try
https://m.

[Brother Buzz]

15. Burn On

[Chorus]
Burn on, big river, burn on
Burn on, big river, burn on

[Diamond_Dog]

5. Outstanding!

My son and his gf lived in the Falls for several years and they still enjoy kayaking the river. I’m going to pass this along to him. Let’s hope this trend continues!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. That IS good news!

I think we all need all the good news we can get!

[mopinko]

9. seen in the chicago river this year, also.

[2naSalit]

10. Locals need to be careful...

they can be very dangerous when they feel threatened.

When I lived in a very wild area a few years ago, there was an otter who built a nest along a favorite "floating spot" for the locals. Locals always bring their dogs, who wouldn't? The otter was not amused and attacked a number of floaters over several seasons, some severely injured, dogs maimed as well. Otters are ninjas in water with sharp teeth and claws and are no slouches on land when called upon.

So those going to check out the otters should be mindful of their distance and consider whether bringing their pets is a good idea. Optical aids are a good idea.

[Walleye]

13. 👍 Great headline

[JoeOtterbein]

14. K n R ! Thanks for posting!

Great news about Otters!

[IronLionZion]

16. Hopefully no fires these days

Welcome back otter

[niyad]

17. Excellent!

[Paladin]

19. Always nice to hear of more otters. (nt)

[AllaN01Bear]

21. doin what it otter .

[BumRushDaShow]

22. Wow.

That made me check for any here in Philly in the Schuylkill River (the source of the infamous "Schuylkill Punch" and like other big city rivers, a polluted mess that has since been cleaned up) and one was first spotted back in 2005 in a window that allows the marine biologists to monitor the Fairmount Fish Step along the Schuylkill River Dam.

Apparrently more and more have been spotted since - https://www.phillyvoice.com/yes-there-are-more-otters-phillys-schuylkill-river/

That ladder lets spawning fish (and apparently other aquatic creatures) get up over the dam and swim north -



Fish in view (shad spawn in the river)!



There used to be a municipal dump right near there in the early 20th century -