Perfect day for ice

Dog paw sculpture outside of the doggie spa.

It was cold today, but not too cold to walk outside, and most of the time the sun was shining: the perfect day for ice sculptures. What could be more awesome than taking a walk to the grocery store in Shorewood and watching intrepid artists carving giant blocks of ice?

I'm not sure what this (above) is supposed to be. A heart? A butt? It's kind of sexy. I like the way the light was shining on it. Ok, it's pretty hot. I can't believe it didn't melt itself.

Well, I learned something interesting about ice sculptures. What's different about the picture above and the one below? The above shot was taken about 45 minutes before the next one, below.

Aha- I always thought you could only take away from an ice sculpture, by shaving or carving. As it turns out, you can also add parts to one. The miracle of ice!

Of course, it would have been even more awesome if any of the artists was carving otter shapes, since otters LOVE ice. It would have been great symbolism. But alas...

Oh, the Milwaukee heat!

The thermometer says 83 degrees F. My personal melting point is much lower than that. We eschew A/C as a general conservation and frugality measure, so my glass of cold sun tea and an ice pack is sufficing for now...that, and dreaming of otters joyfully sliding down icy slopes onto frozen rivers!Otter chillaxin' after a fun day of ice sliding.

Queries

Photo by Brett Cole.

Today would have been the perfect day for getting out in the kayak, for going for a bicycle ride, for looking for otters to photograph, or even just a nice long walk. I am still not up for any of this yet, but I hope that you, gentle reader, were able to take advantage of the (finally) gorgeous weather and get the heck outside for some soul-soothing R&R. Maybe you even had an extra can of ice-cold PBR for me.

Meanwhile, I've been inside, resting my injured self, and basking in the computer screen's soft comforting glow instead of the bright light of the sun. You did apply sunscreen, right? With a sufficient SPF?

Now, one thing I have learned from this blogging experiment is that it is easy to get caught up in looking at one's own blog stats. Who's looking? How long did they stay? Where did they come from? And my favorite: what search engine queries led them here?

Here are some of my favorite search queries that led folks to The River Otter. Enjoy. Bonus points if any of them were yours.

*the benefit of an apple at morning

*river otter penis

*i love river otter (me too. Warms the cockles of my heart.)

*getting rid of river otters under house (Why would you want to do that?)

*pictures of otters peeing

*shoe (sic) me live river otters for my students (This was, apparently, from a teacher?)

*uwm (How random!)

*dam but (but what?)

*river otter cupcakes (Yum! I hope the reference was to the decoration, not an ingredient.)

*why is important to save the river otter

*otters eating toads

*Do Otters use binkys?

And my favorite new one- *my grandfather was frederick bischoff chocolate

I'll add more as they show up on my stats. I'm not making fun of people- I am expressing delighted amusement. Yes, there is a big difference.

Born under the sign of the otter

There is a separate Celtic astrology system, probably quite ancient and very different than the one we typically use in the US (which is, of note, totally random and only based in the vaguest possible way on anything to do with stars, moon, planets, and the earth's rotation around the sun. But I won't get into precession or any other actual astronomical phenomena here). My June birthday, according to the familiar US system, gives me the sign of Gemini- changing, effervescent, random: all true. But the Celtic system gives me the sign of the Otter. Even better!


I found out about this on MySpace way back in the days when people actually used MySpace. I had put some otter-related things on my page, and one day got a request from some guy in Indiana who called himself OtterBrett (he found me when searching for other otterlovers). He requested to be my MySpace friend and we exchanged otter-related info, and found out that we had some other things in common, including that he and I were both born under the Celtic sign of the Otter, loves camping and nature, and that he lives in the same Indiana town as my aunt and uncle- small, small world (yay, interwebs!). So when I abandoned my MySpace page and moved over to Facebook, I befriended OtterBrett there too--never having met him IRL-- on which we still keep in touch. Isn't this what so-called "social networking sites" are supposed to be about? Meeting new people and learning things you otherwise never would have had any idea about?

Here's a rundown of the deets on those born under the Sign of the Otter:

Date of Birth: June 10 - July 7

Celtic Birth Animal: OTTER

Gaelic Name: DOBHRAN (DAV-rhan)

Ruling Planet: Jupiter

Birthstone: Diamond

Key Words: Family, Joyful, Helpful, Intuitive, Playful, Creative.

Description: Otter people are enterprising, with a wide breadth of vision. Optimistic & Opti-mystic. Strong personal magnetism.

Gift, Quality or Ability: Protection, Shape-shifting, Journeying, Shamanic Powers.

Compatibility: Harmonious relations with Goose & Seal. Will also relate well to Salmon, Adder, Stag. Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.

(Brain, who has just as much Celtic ancestry as I do, is a Swan under this system...obviously, it's just for fun! He is a Virgo...which actually does suit him fairly well, I think.)

For more information, including the other Celtic signs, click here.

Differences between sea otters and river otters

Sometimes well-meaning folks send me pictures of Sea Otters. OK, it was only once, but I just wanted to clear up any misconceptions. Below are sea otters. Yes, sea otters do "hold hands" in the water- they hang out that way, in groups called rafts. A raft of otters!
see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Sea otters are a completely different species than Northern River Otters.

They live in the ocean (as opposed to rivers and other fresh water). They are simply not as cute. Although, if I were by the ocean, it would be pretty cool to see them, I am just not as enamored. De gustibus non est disputandem, I guess.

Sea otters are almost completely water-dwelling creatures. They rarely, if ever, venture onto land, where they are clumsy- in fact, they even sleep in the water. Their hind flippers simply don't allow for much agility out of water. Sea otters float on their backs, mostly, and are one of the few species besides Homo Sapiens that use tools- they place mussels on their bellies, and use rocks to crack the shells open. River otters don't do this; instead, they swim in a more typical fashion (belly down) and are just about as comfortable romping on land as they are in the water.

For more information on sea otters, here is a fact sheet from the Vancouver Aquarium.

Otter: canary in the eco mine

I love this photo. It's by Eric Peterson.
From the EPA report "Population Monitoring and Contaminants Affecting the American Otter," 2002
Ecosystem Objective
"As a society we have a moral responsibility [emphasis mine] to sustain healthy populations of American otter in the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence basin.
American otter populations in the upper Great Lakes should be maintained, and restored as sustainable populations in all Great Lakes coastal zones, lower Lake Michigan, western Lake Ontario, and Lake Erie watersheds and shorelines...

American otters are a direct link to organic and heavy metal concentrations in the food chain...contaminants are a potential and existing problem for many otter populations throughout the Great Lakes. "

I dream of the day that otters have their resurgence like the bald eagles have- not an uncommon sight anymore, even, for instance, as close as Mequon. Last year, camping in Wisconsin, DH and I were just amazed, remembering that when we were kids, seeing a bald eagle would have been unimaginable. Next to impossible. That is to say, they have come back within our short lifetimes.

View the whole report here.

Fond memories part IV

Every fall DH and I go up to northern Wisconsin and camp alongside one of the little lakes in the Nicolet National Forest. It's a very special place for us. Because we go up after the high season- usually September or October- it's very private, quiet.

One time I was down at the water in the early morning and there were several Northern River Otters swimming together, cavorting and making schnurfing noises. I called to DH to come down, to bring the camera. I was so excited, and of course I scared them away. The next year I watched and waited, carefully, quietly, and didn't see any of these amazing and elusive creatures. I cried on the last day of our vacation with this deep and brutal disappointment.

The picture is of the lake: dawn, cool and crisp. The otters are hiding.

More super-cute otter shots!

These are some Creative Commons otter shots. Have I mentioned that I love otters? I do!

Who's cute? You are!

Original image by http://www.flickr.com/photos/66164549@N00; Some rights reserved.


Sleeping in heaps!

Original image by jaygooby; Some rights reserved.

One thing that is especially wonderful about otters is their friendly, social nature.

Original image by shinythings; Some rights reserved.

Enjoy!

I heart otters

Photo by Crow_warrior 44 from Flickr.
The Northern River Otter, Lontra Canadensis, or Lutra Canadensis
Please enjoy some fun facts about Northern River Otters, culled from a variety of mostly-online sources.
Otters are natural swimmers, having webbed feet. Valve-like skin flaps cover their ears and nostrils, allowing them to dive to depths of up to thirty-five feet. River otters can hold their breath for up to 8 minutes.
River otters spend two-thirds of the time on land and can run at a speed of 29 km/hour.
River otters eat fish, including catfish, bullheads, suckers, carp, and sunfish. Amphibians that river otters eat include frogs or toads; they also eat crustaceans, including crayfish or mussels. Sea otters are one of the few tool-using mammals, using rocks to open clam shells whilst they float on their backs, but river otters do not do this.
Otters are related to weasels, ferrets, mink and badgers, of the family Mustelidae. River Otters can discharge a strong, disagreeable scent from a pair of anal glands when threatened or disturbed. Baby otters recognize their own mother’s specific musky odor.
Their average size is 18 pounds and 40 inches long. Males are approximately 17 percent larger than females, a phenomenon known as sexual dimorphism. As in many species, males have a penis bone, called a baculum. In contaminated areas, otters may have smaller bacula.
River otters’ lustrous, plush brown fur is waterproof, protecting them from extreme environmental conditions. This fur is still coveted by humans; sadly, 20,000 - 30,000 river otters are commercially harvested annually.
One delightful characteristic of river otters is their social habit. They enjoy playing and swimming together in streams, rivers, lakes, but can be shy and elusive, making it sometimes difficult for humans to see them. Play includes games, such as tag and catch, and leisurely swims. River otters enjoy sliding along riverbanks and on snow or ice. River otters are one of the few animals that play as adults.
River otters enjoy the fruits of other species' labors: they use abandoned or active structures created by other animals, such as beavers, as den-sites.
For an article about river otter re-introduction, click here.

Chocolotters!

The Northern Chocolate company has been a mainstay of the Brewer's Hill neighborhood for some twenty-odd years now. It's a crazy little store- you have to ring a bell to get in, and come prepared for an experience like no other. The chocolate is amazing, though, and worth a little trip. Otter-shaped chocolate is offered in both milk and dark varieties. As you can see, there is a definite otter theme, which only adds to its appeal.
It is The River Otter's tradition to make a stop before Christmas, before Easter, and possibly one or two other "must have delicious dark Northern Chocolate otters ASAP!!" stops annually. On a cravability scale of 1-10, I would place it at about an 8 or a 9.


For a more in-depth article about the place, see this article.

El Parque Zoologico

I went to the Milwaukee County Zoo today with my brother and his wife. It was free day, which means it was packed with people. We did get to see a few animals as well. It was pretty much nap time. Two North American River Otters were chillaxing for our viewing pleasure.

There was some serious snuggling between these two and what looked like grooming, then scruff-biting; we thought we were going to witness some adult otter behavior there for a while. (And you know what that means: cute baby otters!!) At least, I am assuming that they were a breeding pair.Kind of weird to think that these creatures once lived right here before people urbanized the whole area. We go to see them held hostage, in the same place they used to frolic.

Free Zoo day tomorrow!

The Milwaukee County Zoo has free admission tomorrow! See you there. I'll be by the otters.

Cleaner waters bring more otters!

I found this article from the Boston Globe not only cute but very encouraging!


From the article:
"The day before New Year's Eve, Maury Eldridge was kayaking on the Charles River in Needham near the Dover line when he spotted a pair of slender brown animals sitting on a chunk of ice.

As he paddled closer, the pair of North American river otters dived into the water. A few moments later, they reappeared through a hole in the ice and stared right at Eldridge, who quickly grabbed his camera...

Eldridge was not the only one excited by the sighting. The Charles River Watershed Association hailed the documented presence of otters so close to Boston as a mark of important progress. "It is a sign of the health of the river," said Rebecca Scibek Wickham, outreach coordinator for the local environmental group. "From our perspective, this shows that the river is becoming cleaner, and it is able to support more wildlife."

Not just for cats anymore

Thank you!

I'd like to take the opportunity to thank everyone out there on the interwebs who is reading this, and especially those who are contributing to the discussion, both here and elsewhere. It certainly has been an adventure.

Otters are team players. We need each other to be successful! So thank you; you know who you are.

Gratuitous (royalty-free) otter shots

(SUPER CUTE alert!)
I've heard a few people say they've seen otters on the Milwaukee River. It's possible. I've seen them (North American River Otters) in northern Wisconsin and it was a special treat. They are kind of fun to watch at the Zoo, but it made me very sad at the same time.


I myself have seen something along the river bank that I can best identify as a fisher. I have also learned that there are dark mink in Glendale, descendents of escapees from a former fur farm.



I hope that someday the waters of our river can one day be clean enough that otters can once again frolic here. People who enjoy fishing, though, do not seem to appreciate the otter. (Addendum: this last statement is based on reports of fisherpeople killing/poisoning otters in northern Wisconsin, acting on the belief that they "eat all the fish.") I do note, also, that they live in the impounded lakes in the Nicolet National Forest- dammed rivers- so I really do hold the belief that it is the contaminants (and other issues with urban life) and not the dam themselves that deter otters.

Aren't they just SUPER CUTE????????