• Friday-What'sUP March 31 - 10:24 pm

Many folks travel M-28 or US-2 when heading east or west in the U.P. Some travel on both during their journey, connecting with the two routes via a number of different north/south highways. One of those highways, M-77, originates in Seney and heads south, passing Lake Anna Louise at Blaney Park along the way to US-2. That's where Scott Mitchell happened upon this otter who seems quite happy to have the ice on its way out and is taking advantage of the warmth of the sun to dry his coat. Truthfully now, how many of you thought this was a seal upon first glance?

Good morning! Even the otter has to soak some long awaited sunshine. Nice picture of the otter, another creation on this beautiful earth.

Mary, I thought it was a seal at first. Thought a vacation picture was tossed in today. I think he is ready for warmer weather.

He otter be in pictures, and lo' he was.

I thought he was a seal too.

Who can resist an otter? I have only seen them a few times in the
wild. Once on a canoeing trip on the Victoria Day weekend (the
week before Memorial Day)--sliding on a muddy river bank in
Ontario. Once crossing the road to get from one side of a marsh to
the other side in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. And once at
the Seney Wildlife Center. They always look so joyful and
mischievous.

Joyful and mischievous; that could describe Dr. Nat, hehe.

I remember a pair of otters in the little lake behind our house. In the winter time they had found a small opening in the ice and were shooting out of the water about 2 ft then sliding along the ice on their underside, much like a penguin. I don't recall them having a fish, so I assume they were just playing....

When we come UP, we take US2 to Blaney Park and turn north. The Seney Visitor Center is an enjoyable bathroom stop. I love strolling the perimeter of the building outside and seeing the sights. Also have taken many pictures of swan families along 77. Once I got out of my car to take a picture of a swan and babies at Lake Anna. The mom was a lo-o-ong way away, but she figured I was too close and started honking at me and chasing me, though I was a safe distance away. I gave up on that picture!

Otters are so much fun and entertaining to watch! Such carefree and spirited party animals.

I LOVE otters! They're my favorite attraction at our Potter Park Zoo in Lansing. They are so playful and carefree. There is an adorable old movie about an otter call Ring of Bright Water. You'll need a tissue though.

I have never seen an otter but did see the slide marks this winter snowshoeing.

Count me in - but only at first glance. Though, should the seas rise sufficiently, perhaps one day the PastyCam will provide a pic of the first seal found in the UP ... :)

"The Otter's story," a children's book by Emil Liers
tells the story of Ottiga and his family who live at
Schlatter Lake. This was a favorite of my kids. Within the first few chapters all the family except Ottiga are killed. Ottiga survives on his own and finds new friends. Liers describes them as they slide on the ice and down river banks. Eventually Ottiga finds his way through the Michigan and Wisconsin waterways to the Mississippi. The book is out-of-print, but maybe some libraries have it.

I added an update to the fundraiser going on for my nephew Kevin, to help him with the costs of the bone marrow transplant he'll be undergoing. If you're interested, you can find it here: Kevin's Story Thank You!!

Gosh....I was trying to figure out how a seal got in icy water......guess I have never seen an otter.....?????

Sun is out,no snow out the window anymore, what more could we ask for the end of March.

God Bless.........

It was good to see an update on the fundraising for your
nephew, Kevin, Mary. Thanks. As for otters, my wife and I saw
one once while canoeing Crooked Lake in the Sylvania Tract
over by Watersmeet. It is wonderful to see otters anywhere (the
Toledo Zoo has always had a nice group of them), but nothing
beats seeing them in the wild. I think my wife and I are going to
have to go over to Seney. I hear more good things about that
place, and this is probably a great time to go with all the
waterfowl migrating through.

Actually, the otter was sliding a fish down the hatch. The otter made several catches while I was there. Eatin'Good in the Neighborhood.
Scott

While steelhead fishing in WI a couple of years ago, I had two otters swim to within about 30 feet of me before they figured out I didn't belong in their river. Under they went and resurfaced another 200 feet downstream. Very cool to see. And they probably had better luck fishing than I did.
Mr. Deb

I had my brother's two young kids many years ago on Robinson Road in Emmet County where it crosses Pleasantview Swamp, and a whole family of otters came humping out of the water and made their sinuous way across the road into the swamp on the other side. Why did the otters cross the road? To put smiles on the faces of a couple of great kids.

So there's no such thing as a Lake Superior seal?

Mr. Deb, I've heard of swimming with dolphins, but you got to go fishing with otters.

Were there ever otters in the UP? The reason I ask is because of the village of Otter Lake. Chattanooga has a great Aquarium. They have the cutest otters. Presently they are working on getting some penguins.