Otter Heaven

NorthernFocusNorthernFocus Registered Users Posts: 1,347 Major grins
edited May 30, 2011 in Wildlife
This past weekend we made what has become an annual trip to a place in Prince William Sound that I call otter heaven. There are literally hundreds of northern sea otters. Judging by the ratio of mother/pup pairs they also like this area as a nursury. We had terrible weather with low light conditions the entire time but did manage a few shots.

Foul Weather Friends
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This one nervous otter kept ducking under water and popping up behind the other one that was trying to go to sleep.
Save Me!!!
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It's not hard to see how the Russians nearly hunted these guys to extinction in the 1800s. They are pretty easy to sneak up on when sleeping.
Blessed Sleep
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Nap Time
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Sea otters rarely leave the water. They feel safe hauling out on blocks of ice that are floating far from land.

Beached Blonde (note the pup laying behind her)
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Icecapades
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And my personal favorite of the trip...

Mother and Child
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But otter photos are really a secondary purpose for visiting this particular location. Here's the main reason...

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Dan

My Photo Gallery:Northern Focus Photography
I wish I was half the man that my dog thinks I am...

Comments

  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited May 29, 2011
    Love the low angles....I especially like the one where the otter is looking right at you on the small piece of floating ice. I'd much prefer the otters (not to eat of course.) I am not much of a seafood eater. :D
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • ScottWScottW Registered Users Posts: 69 Big grins
    edited May 29, 2011
    Great shot, love the eye contact!
    My blog
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited May 29, 2011
    Very nice...thanks for sharing! thumb.gif
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited May 29, 2011
    Excellent set Dan.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • korandokekorandoke Registered Users Posts: 517 Major grins
    edited May 29, 2011
    nice serie

    kind regards,
    korandoke
    Best regards,
    Korandoke
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited May 29, 2011
    Great set, Dan! I especially like "Icecapades." thumb.gif Best, Pam
  • NorthernFocusNorthernFocus Registered Users Posts: 1,347 Major grins
    edited May 29, 2011
    Thanks for all the comments, folks. The icecapades shot was on the other end of the same chunk of ice as the mom and pup. I think this one may have been last year's pup from the same female. He acted just like a submissive puppy to an older dog and kept trying to get close to the female but she kept baring her teeth at him. Then he went to the other end of the flow and began playing with a piece of ice and rolling around. The icecapades shot was the best eye contact I got from him.
    Dan

    My Photo Gallery:Northern Focus Photography
    I wish I was half the man that my dog thinks I am...
  • Dennis KaczorDennis Kaczor Registered Users Posts: 2,413 Major grins
    edited May 30, 2011
    Very nice series of images.
    Regards - Dennis

    Dennis Kaczor Photography
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