VIDEO: Otter family turns Beach Avenue into a wildlife crosswalk in Oak Bay
Published 2:40 pm Saturday, June 20, 2026
Cyclists and pedestrians along Beach Avenue near Willows Beach were treated to an unexpected wildlife sighting Saturday morning.
A family of four river otters stopped traffic near Willows Beach this morning, turning Beach Avenue into a makeshift crosswalk.
Story to come. pic.twitter.com/w6Ds8luIeG
— Oak Bay News (@OakBayNews) June 20, 2026
Just after 9 a.m. on June 20, a family of four river otters, a mother and her three pups, brought traffic to a temporary halt as they made their way across the road.
While the mother confidently led the crossing, the three pups trickled in behind.
At one point, the pups paused in the middle of the street, bunching together in what appeared to be a brief embrace before continuing on. Moments later, the mother darted back across the road on what looked like a quick reconnaissance mission.
River otters are commonly seen along Greater Victoria’s shorelines and are often mistaken for sea otters.
Unlike their ocean-dwelling cousins, river otters spend much more time on land and can be found in both freshwater and coastal environments.
The charming roadside encounter drew smiles from onlookers before the family safely continued on its way.
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