Something strange swimming in the RR

[Hookmanski]

Hey all!

Earlier this week I was fishing the RR near my grandfathers farm in North Branch. I was casting a spinner and I saw something move in the water. Thinking it was a fish, I casted at it. Luckily I didnt catch it because it was definitely not a fish! Some kind of hairy animal, a fast swimmer. I called my grandfather to tell him about it, he thought it was a muskrat, but I thought it was bigger than that. Too small to be a beaver. My thought it that it was an otter! It was long and thin and swam with grace, I watched it swim across the river and it scurried up the bank before I could get a good look at it.

I know otters have made a little bit of a comeback in Jerz, is it possible thats what I saw? Any input is appreciated, thanks all!

[thmyorke1]

I saw one the week before opening day at Duke Island Park. Im not too knowledgeable about the lil dudes but ill give them a read some time.

[Jigman13]

Mink?

[Eskimo]

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There are a few otters in New Jersey. In fact, Fish & Wildlife has a season for trapping otters: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2...ott_regs16.pdf

I often see mink dashing about the shoreline of the South Branch, but I haven't seen any otters.

The only otter I ever saw in New Jersey was in the Great Swamp - which is the headwaters of the Passaic.

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[meatwad555]

I've seen an otter in the north branch before. Much further north than where it sounds like you were though. He jumped in the water and swam off when I walked up to the bank of the river. I kept looking around while fishing but I never saw it again.

[Billfish715]

I saw one in the Great Swamp last spring. I've also had them around our dock in Manasquan quite often. They are in New Jersey but not often seen. What I have seen on many of the waterways in the state are beavers. The most recent sighting was on the North Branch of the Raritan in the Far Hills area. As you're walking along the banks, check the trees for the tell-tale signs of beaver activity. You'd be surprised at where those paddle-tale rats show up.