A routine morning coffee quickly turned into an unexpected wildlife show for one local household after a river otter made a surprise visit right into their yard.<\/p>\n
Belinda Kerda lives in the Rural Municipality of Stuartburn<\/a> and says the encounter began like many others, with a bit of movement catching her eye near the riverfront property.<\/p>\n She says otters are not a regular sight in the yard.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re having coffee like every morning, and we saw movement and I said, oh, Rob it’s that darn groundhog again.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n What she saw next, however, was anything but ordinary.<\/p>\n A playful and curious visitor<\/p>\n Kerda describes spotting what she called a \u201cslinky otter\u201d wandering through the yard, seemingly on a mission to explore every corner.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd Rob says, that\u2019s not a groundhog\u2026 turn around and look and here\u2019s this slinky otter just checking out the entire yard,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Phone in hand, Kerda began recording as the otter made itself right at home, circling the property.<\/p>\n \u201cI picked up my phone and he or she ended up going across the snow left in the yard, sliding on it, having fun,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n The animal\u2019s playful behaviour left a clear impression, literally.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a skid mark on the snow,\u201d Kerda adds, noting the otter appeared to have a well-used \u201cslide\u201d near the house.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not their first otter sighting, but a rare yard visit<\/p>\n While otters are occasionally spotted in the nearby river, Kerda says seeing one so close to the house is highly unusual.<\/p>\n \u201cOh yes, we see them in the river, but generally they\u2019re pretty skittish of people,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n She suspects this particular visitor may have been scouting the area.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s the first time they\u2019ve come by the house. I think she\u2019s looking for a place to nest by the river,\u201d Kerda speculates.\u00a0<\/p>\n In fact, she\u2019s already convinced the otter might be female and possibly even expecting.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m pretty sure because she\u2019s big\u2026 and probably pregnant. Who knows? Wouldn\u2019t that be awesome?\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n A yard full of wildlife<\/p>\n The otter may be the newest addition, but Kerda says wildlife sightings are nothing new on their property.<\/p>\n From deer and raccoons to skunks and even bears, the yard is rarely quiet.<\/p>\n \u201cThe deer are named. We have names for the deer,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n While bears tend to cause trouble, the otter brought nothing but entertainment.<\/p>\n \u201cThe otter, she was new in the yard, she was new and it was fun to watch her,\u201d Kerda says.\u00a0<\/p>\n Related Stories:<\/p>\n Morning coffee with a view<\/p>\n For Kerda and her family, wildlife watching has become part of the daily routine, especially with a river just steps away.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why we sit here when we\u2019re having our coffee in the morning,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n And while squirrels and birds usually provide the show, this latest visitor raised the bar.<\/p>\n With talk already of naming the otter, Kerda says she\u2019ll be consulting her grandchildren for ideas, especially if the playful visitor returns.<\/p>\n -With files from Carly Koop.<\/p>\n
\n@steinbach_online<\/a> When a backyard becomes a front-row seat to nature \ud83e\udda6 A curious river otter decided to turn the Kerda yard in the RM of Stuartburn into its own little playground. #steinbachonline<\/a> #stuartburn<\/a> #riverotter<\/a> #animalsworld<\/a> \u266c original sound – SteinbachOnline<\/a>
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