First river otter in 100 years returns to San Mateo Coast
In a promising sign of wildlife recovery in the Bay Area, researchers have observed a river otter living along the San Mateo County coast, the first documented sighting of the nimble, furry-coated swimmers there since the 1800s, scientists say. … Once numerous across the United States, river otters — a more slender cousin of sea otters who spend their time mostly in inland streams, creeks and bays — were hunted for their dense fur in the 1800s and also experienced population declines due to development and toxic chemicals. In recent years, river otters have made a comeback across Northern California, with sightings increasingly common along the shores of San Francisco Bay, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Marin and Sonoma counties. But they have been slow to expand their range down the coast south of the Golden Gate Bridge.
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