River Otters Return to San Mateo Coast After 100 Years
In a historic ecological victory, wildlife researchers have documented the return of North American river otters ( Lontra canadensis ) to the San Mateo County coastline in California for the first time in over a century SFGATE . Capturing this iconic mammal on motion-activated trail cameras at the Cloverdale Ranch Open Space Preserve marks a major milestone for regional biodiversity and ecological restoration. The reappearance of river otters signals that coastal habitats, long degraded by human activity, are regaining their natural health and supporting complex wildlife food webs. A Historic Sighting at Cloverdale Ranch The groundbreaking discovery was made by wildlife researcher Ken Hickman, who has spent years monitoring local biodiversity across Northern California. Hickman reviewed automated camera trap footage stationed deep within the Cloverdale Ranch Open Space Preserve near Pescadero and identified a healthy, active river otter. The animal was recorded multiple times acros...
