This otter was spotted near the County Road 37 boat landing on Little Maple, Monday, Jan. 2. The animal submerged frequently then crawled out onto the ice where it appeared to eat. Although otters aren’t seen all that often, according to Assistant Area Wildlife Manager Peter Borash, they are doing very well throughout the state right now and Wright County has a large population of resident otters. They especially thrive in smaller ponds and wetlands with streams or ditches running through them, which Wright County has in abundance, Borash said. They are now present throughout all of Minnesota, from the arrowhead region down to the southwest corner of the state. Borash stated he has heard more reports of otter sightings in Central Minnesota this year. Although he said he doesn’t know the exact reason he said some possibilities include: less ice, so they can still travel easily, higher than average population, less trapping pressure due to low fur prices, and more visibility due to many of the shallower ponds drying up so some may have moved to larger (and more developed) bodies of water for the time being.