37. River Otter

Full disclosure: this photograph was not taken on Leaning Oaks, but on Salt Spring Island. We will keep trying for a photograph from here, but it may be a while as we have only seen them here about five or six times. We think that we can likely thank them for cleaning the pond out of invasive Bullfrogs. River Otters (Lutra canadensis) can be found by the ocean (like this photograph) or by rivers, lakes or marshes. The first one that we saw on the property was running down the driveway, possibly to a nearby lake. They move well on land, unlike the Sea Otter which would never be seen like this fellow out on the beach. 

---