A great start to the new year. Well, I don’t know what the rest of 2021 holds for my photographic endeavors but it sure started off in fine fashion!

New Year’s Day I was photographing a great blue heron on an icy creek when I noticed movement about 10 yards behind it. Much to my surprise, there were two river otters! The light was horrible as the sun had not risen entirely and it was a long shot so those pictures didn’t really come out.

The next day I returned, hoping for another chance at these elusive creatures and, thankfully, one made an appearance. It was initially in the shadows making it hard to get a good shot but then it emerged on the opposite side of a nearby pond in full light.

It was a long ways away limiting the quality of pictures but I was absolutely ecstatic to see and photograph a river otter, a first for me and something few ever see.

River otters were once entirely extinguished from Colorado due to the fur trade and waterway pollution. Colorado Parks & Wildlife began reintroducing them in the 1970s and while it has been a very successful program and they are not considered endangered, they are still considered a threatened species.

How could you not grin when looking at this little cutie?

One of the best parts about my recent trip to Alaska was the opportunity to photograph – and indeed see for my first time – cool creatures like this.

As we departed Seward and headed into Resurrection Bay for a day on the water, this little one was floating along, taking a nap. Our approach did wake him from a slumber but given how he remained quite relaxed and just looked at us, I am sure it didn’t mind too much.

Sea otters once had a range covering an arc of Pacific coastal waters from Japan to Mexico. Hunting in the 18th and 19th century devastated populations across much of that area bringing the species to the brink of extinction.

Thankfully, conservation efforts began in the early 20th century and it has rebounded quite well. However, they are still considered an endangered species with worldwide populations only about a third of what they are believed to have been before the 1700s.