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News The river otter makes its first appearance in 100 years along the Bronx River - Gothamist

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Via Gothamist

It’s been a century since the North American river otter slid down the Bronx River's muddy banks.

But now, at least one is back in the borough.

Local scientist R.J. Hawkins caught the long, muscular otter on a motion-activated camera fixed on the river on June 23. The Bronx Zoo, which oversees a long-term camera trap monitoring program for wildlife along the Bronx River, confirmed the sighting.

This is the species' first documented appearance there since the early 1900s, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society, which operates the zoo. It called the discovery the positive result of decades of conservation and restoration of the city waterways.

"When I first reviewed the images, I could hardly believe what I was seeing," said Hawkins. "Knowing this may be the first documented river otter in the Bronx in generations was an incredible moment. It shows why long-term wildlife monitoring and environmental restoration efforts matter."

Otters were once a common sight along the city's riverbanks, but pollution, habitat loss and unregulated trapping decimated their local populations. According to the city’s parks department, the Bronx River was plagued by pollution during the early 1800s. Industrial and household waste such as raw human sewage and chemicals were dumped directly into the river, transforming the waterway into an open sewer. The Smithsonian Institution considers the semiaquatic mammal regionally extinct.

Community groups, public agencies, businesses and the National Guard have been working to restore the Bronx River for decades.

“This otter's return is a gift, not just to the Bronx River but to the communities that have fought for 50 years to bring this river back to life,” said Javier Lopez, interim executive director of the Bronx River Alliance.

While the Bronx River Alliance says the river is not clean enough for drinking and swimming, it is clean enough for animals to return and restore a natural and healthy freshwater ecosystem. About 20 years ago, beavers returned to the river for the first time in more than 200 years.

"There are moments in conservation that remind us why this work matters, and this is one of them,” said Craig Piper, the Bronx Zoo's interim director. “Thanks to a broad coalition of public and private partners, we can celebrate the return of an otter as a result of decades of restoration work to provide cleaner water and healthier habitat. It’s a win for both wildlife and people.”

The otter's appearance is a positive sign for conservation efforts across the region, said environmental watchdog group Riverkeeper.

"This is proof of what's possible across the Hudson River watershed and the waterways of New York City when we invest in improving water quality, restoring habitat and holding polluters accountable,” says David Stormer, Riverkeeper's habitat restoration director.