Otter in Union County?
 

So I was doing a little night fishing at Lenape Park pond, which isn't my preferred local spot but everywhere else is offimits for stocking so I decided to make due. As I walked up I saw something swimming and splashing around. I figured it was just a carp as that pond is filled with them so I turned on my headlamp and what i saw was definitely no carp. It looked to me like an otter. I thought maybe it was a muskrat but as I watched it was way too fluid and sleek for a muskrat. It was swimming around more like a seal than any muskrat or beaver.i have seen. I checked online and see that there are otters all over NJ but I found no record of one ever being spotted in UC. Anyone else come across otters in NJ?

Re: Otter in Union County?
 

Can't say I have, but it's a cool find.

Re: Otter in Union County?
 

never saw an otter in nj but lots and lots of mink

Re: Otter in Union County?
 

Probably a beaver. They are very active this time of year, especially at night. I've ran into them twice this week. Their massive tail slaps are pretty startling, especially when you aren't expecting it!

Re: Otter in Union County?
 

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I have seen otters in the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. I guess it's not impossible for a wayward otter to find himself in an urban park pond.

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Re: Otter in Union County?
 

it was a beaver or muskrat

Re: Otter in Union County?
 

Challenge accepted. I will return if\when I see and photograph the otter\muskrat\hallucination.

Re: Otter in Union County?
 

Why not an otter? I've also seen them in the Great Swamp. There have been flocks of turkeys throughout U.C. I've seen gobblers and hens in downtown Westfield and Clark and roosting on houses in Plainfield. There have been bears, coyotes, foxes, lots of deer, pheasants, woodcock, and various waterfowl. Why not an otter.

We had one hanging around our dock in Manasquan. They do get around. Why should there not be an otter in Cranford? As for the fishing, it's still my go to spot for carp. I just wish there were a plan for dredging the place though.

I'm happy that you saw an otter. Most people never will. Good luck seeing one again. They are very skittish. As for beavers, their tell tale tree falls and gnaw marks would be a good indication of their presence.

Re: Otter in Union County?
 

I saw n otter a few weeks ago in raritan below the junction.. bigger then a muskrat.. longer then a beaver. But it had a dog tail.. big mighty impressive rounded tail.. seen many of mink in my.days so I rules that out too..

Re: Otter in Union County?
 

There was a seal in Woodbridge a few years back. Legitimately on the road off of St George by the Wendy's. I think an otter can find its way into UC.

Re: Otter in Union County?
 

Otters are definitely rebounding and every year there are more and more with the young ones being pushed out to find their own territory. They are definitely starting to pop up in places that they havnt been seen in years.

Re: Otter in Union County?
 

Otters are shaped like a long dachshund. Not at all like a beaver and way bigger than a muskrat. They can swim circles around both. We now have Fishers in many suburban areas that haven't seen them in years. Why not otters?

Re: Otter in Union County?
 

There is a lake in jefferson township that I fish at and I am certain there is an otter living in the lake. I have seen it from boat very close up and it does not have a tail like a beaver and I know it is not a muskrat. They are really quick swimmers.

Re: Otter in Union County?
 

The length of their body, the tail, and the way they move in the water make them pretty distinctive. I still want to get a picture though. Hard since they are apparently mostly active at night this time of year.

Re: Otter in Union County?
 

Fisher cats are nasty dude. They'll eat your small dogs and cats and are known to attack children up in the Adirondacks. I want one lol

Re: Otter in Union County?
 

a fisher cat scream is the stuff of nightmares. get a ferret instead they're just as nasty.

Re: Otter in Union County?
 

I use to fish Ramapo Lake a lot about 15 years ago up off Skyline Drive. When I first saw it out in the lake I thought it was a beaver due to it's size. Then the thing dove and came back up, floating on its back eating something on its belly, then i saw it's long tail. I had no idea otters lived in our lakes but there it was, they are around, and it was big. Haven't been up there in a while to confirm if they are still live there.

Re: Otter in Union County?
 

Makes sense. Must have been after their cod sandwich haha.

Re: Otter in Union County?
 

I have seen them in the Delaware up near the Gap, and also quite a few in crosswicks creek in Bordentown

Re: Otter in Union County?
 

Definitely sounds like there may be a fisher cat in my backyard. Sounds like a dying homeless person. Im thinking about walking back there to rule out possum, coon or sasquatch.

https://youtu.be/O1qCBmoiiYU