Wildlife enthusiast Terry Chettle was capturing images of a green heron at the Grimsby Wetlands in early August when he and the bird were both startled by an unexpected visitor. Chettle, a resident of Beamsville, Ontario, recounted how a river otter suddenly began teasing the heron, providing an entertaining spectacle for him to photograph.
Expressing his surprise at the otter’s presence, Chettle mentioned that otters are not commonly seen in the area. He seized the opportunity to snap pictures of the otter as it moved to a log and engaged in grooming, even striking playful poses for the camera.
On the same day, Bruce and Laurie Mackenzie encountered Chettle during their stroll in the wetland, where he drew their attention to the otter. Bruce Mackenzie acknowledged the rarity of the sighting, stating that as far as he knew, the appearance of the otter on August 3 was a first in recent memory near the wetlands. He indicated that there have been no further sightings of the otter since that weekend.
The wetlands, formerly a sewage storage site for the Niagara Region, are now managed by the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club, covering approximately 12 hectares along the South Shore of Lake Ontario. Mackenzie, actively involved with the naturalists club as the wetlands’ project manager, highlighted the significance of the otter sighting as a testament to successful habitat restoration and water quality efforts. He noted previous rare species sightings in the wetlands, including threatened least bitterns in Ontario.
Describing otters as a conservation triumph, Laura Timms, a program manager at Credit Valley Conservation specializing in natural heritage management, commended the resurgence of river otter populations in the region. Timms cited efforts by the conservation authority, responsible for overseeing the Credit River watershed encompassing parts of Mississauga and Peel Region, which published an article in 2025 documenting the otters’ comeback.
Timms emphasized the positive trend in otter sightings and the significance of documented reports, including recent otter births at conservation areas like Rattray Marsh and Jim Tovey Lakeview. While the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority refrained from wildlife monitoring, Timms highlighted the historical decline of river otter populations in the 1800s due to hunting, habitat destruction, and water quality issues. However, she noted a remarkable recovery in North American otter populations thanks to ongoing environmental restoration efforts.
Looking ahead, Timms stressed the importance of preserving various habitats to ensure the thriving biodiversity beyond just otters. She emphasized the critical role of wetlands in supporting diverse species, carbon sequestration, and flood prevention, advocating for continued conservation efforts to safeguard habitats and species diversity.
