Fifty years ago, Colorado realized it had made a mistake. Its rivers, once alive with the movement of playful otters cutting through currents and pressing their tracks into sandbars, had gone quiet. “They were killed out,” said Colorado Parks and Wildlife Species Coordinator for Wolverine, Lynx and River Otter, Robert Inman. “That was largely due to no regulations being in place on the taking of wildlife during the 1800s-1900s and pollution from mining tailings affecting fisheries — and therefore — otter food.” Now, through a new project on iNaturalist, CPW is asking Coloradans to help document where otters are showing up across the state.

Other endangered species news:

• KJCT (Grand Junction, Colo.): Palisade students protect endangered Colorado River fish through hatchery program
• E&E News by Politico: Feds deny protections for California lizard