Wildlife enthusiast Terry Chettle was capturing images of a green heron at Grimsby Wetlands in early August when an unexpected sight caught his attention, surprising both him and the heron. Chettle, a resident of Beamsville, Ontario, recounted how a river otter suddenly appeared and teased the heron. The presence of the otter was a rare occurrence in the area, and Chettle managed to snap a photo of it as it moved to a log and started grooming itself.
During the same outing, Bruce and Laurie Mackenzie encountered Chettle while strolling through the wetland. Chettle pointed out the otter to them, and Bruce Mackenzie acknowledged the rarity of the find, mentioning that it was possibly the first otter sighting near the wetlands in recent memory. The wetlands, previously used for sewage storage by the Niagara Region, are now managed by the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club, covering approximately 12 hectares along the South Shore of Lake Ontario. Mackenzie, who is involved with the naturalists club as the wetlands’ project manager, highlighted the significance of the otter sighting in showcasing the successful habitat restoration and water quality efforts in the area.
Expressing excitement over the diverse species appearing in the region, Mackenzie emphasized how these sightings reflect the sustainability of life due to the environmental restoration in the Golden Horseshoe area. Laura Timms, a program manager at Credit Valley Conservation, praised otters as a conservation success story, pointing to their resurgence in the Credit River watershed, which includes parts of Mississauga and Peel Region. Timms noted that while otter numbers dwindled in the past due to hunting and habitat destruction, recent efforts have led to a positive trend in their population recovery.
River otters, known to grow up to 1.4 meters in length and weigh between five to 14 kilograms, are carnivorous creatures that inhabit rivers, lakes, and creeks. They feed on a diet of fish, clams, insects, and other aquatic animals while constructing dens in their natural habitats. Timms stressed the importance of preserving biodiversity beyond otters, highlighting the urgent need to restore and protect various habitats to support a wide range of species, store carbon, and mitigate flooding risks.