River Otter Ripples
The river otter featured on the cover of our Fall 2021 newsletter sent ripples far beyond his home in Cherry Valley Creek.
River otters are most active at night and occasionally can be seen diving for an early morning meal. Wildlife photographer Mike Reynolds was in the right place at the right time to capture his compelling otter portrait.
“Otters are now one of my favorite mammals to photograph,” said Reynolds. “It seems every encounter I have with them, they are doing something interesting, which typically makes for great photos and gives a good idea of their behavior.” A long-time supporter of our conservation work, Reynolds kindly gave Otsego Land Trust permission to use his photo on the cover of our Fall 2021 newsletter.
Inspired by the photograph, local artist May-Britt Joyce reinterpreted the otter portrait in a painting and printed her version on notecards. She is generously donating 20% of the sales proceeds to Otsego Land Trust. Prints of the original Reynolds photo and the Joyce notecards are available through the Cooperstown Art Association.
Otsego Land Trust works to ensure that farmlands, forests, and waterways in our region are preserved in perpetuity. This is essential for maintaining the well-being of local ecosystems and wildlife populations, and particularly important for river otters, whose health and fertility are highly susceptible to toxins in the food chain and to habitat destruction. The Otsego Region is fortunate to have healthy natural habitats that support these amazing creatures.