Why a woman was attacked by an otter while swimming in Lake Tahoe
Author: heideisland
Student Summer Collaborative OTTER (Observational Training and Techniques in Ethological Research) Lab, 2026
This research was supported through the Katharine Bisbee II Fund for the Oregon Alliance of Colleges, in collaboration with the Seattle Aquarium and Oregon Coast Aquarium, with appreciation of the Makah, Hoh, and Quileute tribes, and Quinault Indian Nation of the Olympics, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife.
I will let our digital report speak for itself…
A Beautiful new Documentary, “Between the Tides and Tracks” from Arcane Conservancy Trust and their Fight to Save India’s Coastal Otters
The film highlights their work on the conservation and research of the smooth-coated otters in India’s coastal and mangrove ecosystems.
This documentary was funded by the Mangrove and Marine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation of Maharashtra (Mangrove Cell), and Maharashtra Forest Department.
Through this film, they hope to bring attention to the ecological importance of wetlands, the challenges faced by otters in rapidly changing coastal landscapes, and the urgent need for collaborative conservation action.
Here is the Link to Between Tides & Tracks: A Fight to Save India’s Coastal Otters | Arcane Conservancy
Whidbey River Otter Spotters
Happy World Otter Day (May 27, 2026)! Students and I will be returning to Whidbey in June to collect field data (spraint) for an Island-wide pathogen study. We are hoping to collect otter spraint June 12 – 18, it is not an ideal time for latrine collections (often otters suspend consistent marking during the late spring and summer), but summer research with students needs to occur, well, in the summer. If you have seen an active latrine in the last month, please email or text me at island@pacificu.edu, 503-729-2552. THANK YOU! If you have GPS coordinates, that is even more helpful!
Animal Behavior Class – Showcased in PUO Marketing this year.
I love teaching the animal behavior course each year (PSY | BIO 425), the field component or lab section involves 10 different field excursions with students. My students create collaborative field projects, collaboratively collect data over the course of the semester, and then present their findings in a “conference” that includes faculty and students from other departments. It is not your standard lecture class. This is one of the many rewarding, highly interactive, and interdisciplinary reasons to send your kids to the liberal arts.
Mascot Envy: Sister School Lewis and Clark College has a New Mascot!
The North American river otter is Lewis and Clark College’s new mascot! Although I’m envious that they have adopted my favorite research animal, I am delighted to be giving a talk at Lewis and Clark College on Thursday, April 30th, 2026 at 5:30, in support of Tryon Creek Watershed Council Science Talk Series and Lewis and Clark College’s clever choice.