Wildlife enthusiast Terry Chettle was capturing images of a green heron at the Grimsby Wetlands in early August when he and the heron were both taken by surprise by an unexpected visitor – a river otter. Chettle, a resident of Beamsville, Ont., expressed his amazement at encountering the otter, as they are not commonly seen in the area. He seized the opportunity to photograph the otter as it moved to a log and began grooming itself, putting on a playful display for Chettle with a tongue-out gesture and a wave.
On the same day, Bruce and Laurie Mackenzie were strolling through the wetland when they crossed paths with Chettle, who directed their attention to the otter. Bruce Mackenzie remarked on the rarity of the sighting, noting that as far as he knows, the otter spotted on August 3 was the first observed near the wetlands in recent memory. He added that there have been no further reports of the otter in the area since that weekend.
The Grimsby Wetlands, previously a sewage storage site for the Niagara Region, is now managed by the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club and spans approximately 12 hectares along the southern shore of Lake Ontario. Mackenzie, who is involved with the naturalists club as the project manager for the wetlands, mentioned that the otter sighting is a positive sign of successful habitat restoration and improved water quality. He highlighted previous rare species sightings in the wetlands, such as the least bitterns, which are small herons facing threats in Ontario.
Describing otters as a conservation success story, Laura Timms, a program manager at Credit Valley Conservation, emphasized the positive trend of river otters making a comeback in the region. She noted that the conservation authority, overseeing the Credit River watershed that includes parts of Mississauga and Peel Region, has seen a noticeable increase in documented otter sightings over the years. Timms highlighted that efforts to restore degraded environments have contributed to the resurgence of otter populations across North America.
While celebrating the return of otters, Mackenzie expressed excitement about the diverse species reappearing in the area, signaling the sustainability of wildlife due to conservation efforts in the Golden Horseshoe. Timms echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the need to protect and restore various habitats to support biodiversity and ensure the success of other species beyond otters.