The elusive North American river otter is an adorable and fierce native otter species that resides in the coastal wetlands of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. “Rodeo Lagoon is a great example of the ecosystem they like,” said Vassar Terry, Interpretive Park Ranger in the Marin Headlands. The brackish water and the abundance of fish, crayfish, and waterbirds provide a safe home for these otters. River otters can travel great distances (up to 25 miles overnight!), so you may see them in the wetlands at Muir Beach or Tennessee Valley too.
The river otters in the Marin Headlands have a troubled history—they were impacted by the fur trade in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and the waste generated by the Nike Missile Site drained into their waters. River otters became locally extinct in Marin County by 1960 and weren't seen in Marin again until 1987, as more regulations were put in place and the parks worked to restore the wetland areas.
The River Otter Ecology Project, with help from NatureBridge, is conducting studies to better understand the behavior and health of local otters, including details of their range, reproduction and dietary habits. The Lagoon Loop Trail at Rodeo Beach is a great place to try seeing the otters swimming in the lagoon or playing on the shore. Be sure to keep a safe distance, as wetlands are extremely sensitive habitats.
