Otters Spotted on Zoo Wildlife Cameras for the First Time in Chicagoland

This blog post was written by Alexandra Johnson, a current intern at the Urban Wildlife Institute. Alexandra is gaining hands-on experience in urban wildlife research as part of her year-long internship, where she contributes to the monitoring of wildlife in the Chicago region. Her work helps support the ongoing efforts to study and protect local biodiversity through the use of motion-activated cameras and other innovative conservation methods.

An exciting discovery has recently been made by the Urban Wildlife Institute: an elusive North American river otter has been spotted on one of the UWI wildlife cameras! This is the first time in 14 years that a river otter has been recorded by the biodiversity monitoring done by Lincoln Park Zoo, making it a milestone in the ongoing study of urban wildlife.

Since 2010, the Urban Wildlife Institute has been monitoring wildlife of the Chicago region using motion-activated cameras across more than 100 different sites. These cameras are strategically placed in green spaces across the city and surrounding suburbs, providing valuable insights into the animals that call the urban environment home. Over the years, the program has documented a wide range of wildlife species, including flying squirrels, coyotes, minks, and even weasels!

However, this the first camera capture of a North American river otter in the area since the program’s inception. The site where the otter was spotted is located at Crane’s Landing Golf Club in Lincolnshire, Illinois.

Historically, these river otters were once abundant throughout Illinois, including Chicago. However, habitat loss and overhunting caused their numbers to decline dramatically by the mid-19th century. Efforts in recent decades leading to improved quality in Chicagoland’s waterways have allowed for the gradual return of these playful, semiaquatic mammals to the state. The return of river otters to Chicago and its suburbs is a promising sign that the region’s ecosystems are recovering and providing more safe spaces for wildlife.

This discovery also underscores an important point: Cities, with their green spaces, restored wetlands, and urban rivers, can be great and hospitable environments for wildlife. This is part of a larger trend that researchers are studying through initiatives like the zoo’s Urban Wildlife Information Network, a coalition of more than 58 cities across the globe conducting urban wildlife research. By using shared monitoring methods, like these wildlife cameras, UWIN helps scientists understand how cities can be part of the solution to the biodiversity crisis, providing valuable insights for wildlife managers.

With careful planning and conservation efforts, urban areas can be essential for species like the North American river otter, which needs access to clean water and prey such as frogs, crayfish, fish, and aquatic insects. As the Chicago region continues to grow, it’s clear that urban wildlife is not only surviving but thriving right in our own backyards. Who knows what we might see next?

Want to help? Go to ChicagoWildlifeWatch.org to learn more about Chicago’s urban wildlife and help to identify the animals in photos captured by the wildlife cameras!