River Otter Restoration

Otter restoration efforts began in 1995, with a goal of releasing 180 to 270 otters. In the fall of 2000, otter #279 was released! See the map for details.

Swimming river otters (size 13kb) Click here for larger view

Click the image for a larger view

Project efforts have changed from trapping and transferring otters to surveying and evaluating the results of each release site. Bureau of Wildlife staff are conducting systematic surveys during late winter to measure the presence or absence of otters in the major drainage of central and western New York. Each survey route is made of 15 - 20 survey points at bridge-water course intersections. Each location will be searched 100 meters from the bridge for otter sign, including tracks, slides, toilet sites, or actual observations of the animal. These surveys will be done for a number of years to document the presence of otters and the growth of the population.

Otters have been released at:

Whitney Point Reservoir in Broome County;
the Montezuma marshes in Seneca and Cayuga Counties;
Allegany River in Cattaraugus County;
Conewango and French Creeks in Chautauqua County;
the Genesee River at Letchworth State Park in Livingston and Wyoming Counties;
Bear Swamp in Cayuga County;
Jennings Pond in Cortland County;
Spencer Lake in Tioga County;
wetlands of Hemlock, Honeoye, and Canandaigua Lakes;
the Cohocton River in Livingston, Ontario, and Steuben Counties;
Black Creek in Monroe County; and
Mud Creek in Steuben County.

How you can help:

Although much of the project is behind us, we still need public assistance in documenting where otters are in central and western New York. Especially important are sightings of females with young. Therefore, if you or someone you know has recently seen an otter west of Interstate 81, please report it! Send an email.

We need the following information from you:

your name and telephone number;
date the otter was seen; and
where you saw the otter (town and nearest road).