The most observed wildlife in the city this past week must be a river otter who is enjoying Trippe Lake. Three readers have submitted photos of the otter. On Friday afternoon the otter could be observed from the bridge by the Trippe Lake dam. Take Wisconsin Street and turn to the east at the sign just past Clay Street, near the former American Legion building.
Steve Watson submitted the photos below that he took of the otter on Monday morning. He states, “I watched it till I got cold and had to continue on my walk. It was quite playful….I take my daily walk by the lakes every morning.”
Photos courtesy of Steve Watson 
Lesley Haven submitted the below photos that she took on Tuesday evening. She says of the North American river otter, “It spent quite a while playing in the sun before catching dinner. I am not an expert on fish, but I believe it has a yellow bullhead.”
Janis Goder shared the photos below that she took on Monday. She says, “The resident otter on Trippe Lake today, catching and eating a prodigious amount of fish.”
Thus far there seems to be no evidence of more than one otter in the lake. Readers may be interested in further information about the otters, which may be found on this Wikipedia page.
Our thanks to Steve Watson, Lesley Haven, and Janis Goder for sharing these great pictures with us.
