GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK — With much smaller crowds in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP), it’s the perfect time to scout out the smaller fauna of the park.
Buckrail reader Jason Sutton spotted this trio of otters playing in the water of the Snake River directly below Jackson Lake Dam on Sunday. The critters move quickly, spinning, flipping and wrestling in the water.
Etymologists believe the word “otter” means “water creature,” derived from an ancient Germanic language.
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) says that otters are playful animals and can run on land up to 15 miles per hour. The mammals typically live alone or in small social groups. They generally live to be eight or nine years old in the wild.
“Their playful snow and mud sliding, tail chasing, water play, and snow burrowing activities also serve other purposes — they help strengthen social bonds and let young otters practice hunting techniques,” NWF’s website states.
North American river otters have a thick layer of protective fur that keeps them warm while swimming in frigid water. They can close their nostrils to keep water out during long dives, and can stay underwater for up to eight minutes.
In GTNP, otters are known to be present in the vicinity of Oxbow Bend, between the Jackson Lake Dam and Pacific Creek boat ramp.
