J Scott Shannon (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
otterfamily) wrote2008-07-12 01:08 am
otterfamily) wrote2008-07-12 01:08 am
Two dead otters
The die-off continues...
Two dead otters have been reported to me so far this summer. I didn't see either of them, but the witnesses are reliable. The first was in June on Trinidad State Beach. It was a pup of the year, found soon after death. Then, just this past week, the other was found at Sotsin Point, which is about a mile east and south of Trinidad Head. Judging by size, it appeared to be a yearling/subadult, and had been dead about a month.
I've been to the pier twice since my final session; on the 21st of June, and yesterday. There was no sign of otter activity anywhere, either on or under the docks. It's clear to me that none have visited the dock the entire season thus far. Then, when I was visually scanning the headland, I saw a familiar dark shape moving at Chirper's rubbing place. "An otter!," I thought. At first glance it sure looked and moved like one. When I got my binoculars out and looked at the dark shape, though, I saw what it actually was.
It was a vulture, eating carrion.
How symbolically appropriate...
Two dead otters have been reported to me so far this summer. I didn't see either of them, but the witnesses are reliable. The first was in June on Trinidad State Beach. It was a pup of the year, found soon after death. Then, just this past week, the other was found at Sotsin Point, which is about a mile east and south of Trinidad Head. Judging by size, it appeared to be a yearling/subadult, and had been dead about a month.
I've been to the pier twice since my final session; on the 21st of June, and yesterday. There was no sign of otter activity anywhere, either on or under the docks. It's clear to me that none have visited the dock the entire season thus far. Then, when I was visually scanning the headland, I saw a familiar dark shape moving at Chirper's rubbing place. "An otter!," I thought. At first glance it sure looked and moved like one. When I got my binoculars out and looked at the dark shape, though, I saw what it actually was.
It was a vulture, eating carrion.
How symbolically appropriate...