Yes, You Can See Otters In The Wild In Michigan

Everyone loves a cute animal, especially on the internet. Elephants, dogs, rabbits (you were probably one of many fooled by that adorable AI video of rabbits jumping on a trampoline), frogs, and more. Sometimes, an animal just doing regular animal things can make someone's day so much better. But one animal is always a hit, whether online or in person.

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This water animal is known for being goofy, playful, and high-energy. I'm talking about otters. While sea otters are endangered and well-known because of the way they swim on their back, river otters are thriving around the country, including in Michigan, though there's a good chance you've never seen one.

River Otters vs Sea Otters

Aside from the body of water you find them in, river otters and sea otters are actually quite different. Contrary to popular belief, sea otters can get rather large, while river otters, like the ones you could find here in Michigan, are much smaller, getting up to 30 pounds, whereas sea otters could weigh up to 90 pounds.

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Plus, they have webbed feet to assist with their swimming and claws for when on land, which also differs from sea otters. River otters swim on their stomach and go on land, while sea otters rarely leave the water and swim/float on their backs.

Where To Find Otters In Michigan

While river otters can be found from the Rio Grande to Canada and Alaska, their locations in Michigan are found further North and, recently, in the Detroit River. River otters prefer "unpolluted water with minimal human disturbance", which is why they choose the more remote areas of the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula.

Michigan Otter!
byu/Emotional-Aide3456 inMichigan

You used to be able to find river otters throughout the state until they became the targets of fur trading. One local recently spotted a  river otter at Bay Front Park in Petoskey, and other locals have reported seeing them in the Betsie River, the Tahquamenon River, Fishtown Leeland, and the Seney National Wildlife Refuge. Still, your odds of seeing these elusive animals are best if you follow a river in areas away from civilization.