Otter News Archive

Utah river otter relocation project taking hold

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26th May 2010

The Spectrum and Daily News, St. George, Utah, USA

PROVO, Utah (AP) — After a century's absence, Utah's river otters are poised for a comeback in Wasatch Front waterways.

Last fall, a dozen otters from the Green River were introduced to the middle fork of the Provo River near Midway. They've taken up residence behind a five-foot-high beaver dam and appear to be settling in.

Biologists are studying patterns in otter habitats, diets and migrations. The project is a joint effort of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, the group Utah Wildlife in Need and a Brigham Young University graduate student.

Each otter was implanted with a radio transmitter for monitoring. Three of the dozen otters have died — one struck by an automobile and two from complications from the transplant.