Is all about the return of North Arm of the Fraser River’s Otters !

Our not well known but now the seasonal Christmas Wild River Otters are wonderful to watch ! The small family of North Arm River Otters this year has grown from 2 to a family group of 5 and have spread their fish hunting habitat from the waters of Mc Donald Slough in Richmond to the lower ponds of Vancouver’s McCleery Golf Course and also Celtic Slough” Deering Island Park” in Vancouver .

Their winter diet of fish include Starry Flounder, Sculpins and other bottom fish in the river ! Carp in the McCleery Golf Course Ponds are fished for and eaten before the Christmas Point Grey Herring arrive in the river ! Historically on the “Large Flood Tides ” of Dec., Point Grey Pacific Herring get pushed up into the river on the powerful ” Salish Sea’s Salt Water Wedge” . The salty wedge twists and turns into sloughs and backwaters, providing a great “Christmas Feast of Fish”, of yes Herring for the North Arm River Otters and local Eagles ! On the out -going tide change , the river returns back to more fresh water environment and the now “High Slack Tide Herring” are pushed up to the surface and the Christmas feast begins for the Otters , Eagles,Harbor Seals and Cormorants !

Wow it is a great but really only once in a lifetime chance, to just maybe see the” Christmas Feast” for the Animals and birds in the lower river ! The Natures event happens very quickly , it is just a bit of real luck that you might be there when it does happens !

Question: How to make my chances a little bit better ? When must I be on the McCleery River Front Trail or on the West end of Deering Island Park to just may be get lucky and see this all this unfold ? Look in the Sun Paper on the weather page for the Large High Water Tides, add about 1 hour on to the high tide noted , be in the park or in -front of the McCleery Golf Course and bring your Binoculars !

Hey its free, a great Christmas present from Mother Nature ! Good Luck and tell me how you make out ! “

Happy Holidays”

Terry Slack ” From the North Arm of the Fraser River “

Tags: ,