River Otters (Lutra canadensis) in University Lake

Observation by Abby Nelson:

Observed what looked like a family of 5 river otters in University Lake. I've never seen river otters there before, only the beaver! There are salmon in the streams connected to the lake, so I'm guessing the otters followed them to the lake.

Comments from LEO Editors:

This is the second observation LEO has received this year about river otter sightings along the Anchorage trail system. Grace Graham also saw river otters cross a bike path in Midtown that follows Chester Creek.

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G River Otter Species Profile, river otters can be found across most of Alaska except for the Aleutian Islands, offshore islands in the Bering Sea, and the North Slope. They normally feed on snails, mussels, clams, sea urchins, insects, crabs, shrimp, octopi, frogs, a variety of fish, and occasionally birds. University Lake is stocked with trout by the ADF&G, and is also connected with Chester Creek, which supports growing salmon runs. In September of 2018, river otters were also seen within Anchorage city limits, frolicking in Ship Creek. Erica Lujan