Otterly Delicious!

Otter by Ann Constantino

On Wednesday, a hungry otter searched the Eel River for food. [All photos by Ann Constantino. To follow her explorations of wildlife, click here and Friend her.]

Otter by Ann Constantino

The otter dove beneath the water. When it came up, it was hard to tell who had who. The lamprey had wrapped around the otter who had the lamprey in its mouth.

Otter by Ann Constantino

The otter drug the lamprey onto the bank while it continued to struggle.

Otter by Ann Constantino

The struggle continued for some time.

Otter by Ann Constantino

Here, the otter is still gnawing on the tail as the lamprey’s head can be seen below.

The lamprey slipped into the water and the Otter was right behind

Then the lamprey almost escaped. It slipped into the water but the otter was right behind.

Prey is recovered, still gnawing on the tail.

Prey recovered, and the otter continues gnawing on the lamprey’s tail.

otter And slips away again

Then the lamprey slips away again.

Still chewing the tail end, the lamprey is still alive and thrashing

The otter recovers the lamprey and continues munching while the lamprey is still alive and thrashing. 

After partially finishing the lamprey, the otter let the leftovers sink back into the water and swam away, taking a look in my direction

Delicious!
After partially finishing the lamprey, the otter let the leftovers sink back into the water and swam away, taking a look in the photographer’s direction as if to say, “Did I get all the crumbs out of my mustache?”

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36 Comments
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Jungle Girl
Guest
Jungle Girl
5 years ago

I love the drama of nature. Lucky you to have witnessed such an entertaining encounter!

ESFOAD
Guest
ESFOAD
5 years ago

It is called the Eel River👍

Willie Caso-Mayhem
Guest
5 years ago

🕯Nature at it’s best, thank you Kym and Ann for the photos. 👍🏾

J
Guest
J
5 years ago

One of my favorite moments of my life was walking on the river bar on Dutyville and I accidentally snuck up on an otter snacking on a fish. We we’re right next to each other when we noticed each other at the same time and scared each other!

chasi
Guest
chasi
5 years ago

We live in the most beautiful place.

...
Guest
...
5 years ago

Marvelous.

anny
Guest
anny
5 years ago

Something to consider when thinking of all farm raised meat as cruel. Wild animals do not curl up in their easy chair and die in their sleep.

Sparkelmahn
Guest
Sparkelmahn
5 years ago
Reply to  anny

Force feeding geese to make Fois Gras is cruel. Raising farm animals humanely isn’t. Injecting tons of chemicals into animals is cruel. Raising them as a valued resource isn’t.

KIDDZZ
Guest
5 years ago

That is awesome. Nice cute little otter has got some Chompers! Look at those snappers will ya!

Pike Mortar
Guest
Pike Mortar
5 years ago

Those teeth are effin terrifying

Pat
Guest
Pat
5 years ago

Guest, I am thinking the same thing, DFW is in the process of issuing a restraining order against the otter. unlawful use of a legal Eel that came here from another country, But now has legal alien status and has the right to protection from the conservative otters, who have been wearing their MAGA hats. Stupid I know but us humans are doing the same child like actions.

Robert Zigler
Guest
Robert Zigler
5 years ago

Kym, you might been too young to remember this [you were about 5 years old], but your father, Neil, said, “Hey, the “Indians” used to eat eels, let’s go get one and eat it.” So he and I went down to Benbow dam and pulled two lampreys off the dam with a garden rake, put them in a burlap gunny sack and took them home. Your mother, Myrna, put them in the oven. Soon, this awful stench and ugly dark smoke poured out of the even as the greasy slime began to cook. I mean the smell was REALLY horrible! When your mother took it out of the oven, no one would taste it. Your dad offered it to the dog and the dog wouldn’t touch it. He then offered it to the cat and the cat wouldn’t touch it either. So, we threw it down over the hill for the wild critters to eat. I know Native Americans used to eat them, so I will just say we did not know how to cook them. I don’t think I want to know.

Tom Evans
Guest
Tom Evans
5 years ago
Reply to  Robert Zigler

Have talked with Native Americans and gringos who swear they are delicious smoked.

evengy zamatkin de cabrera.
Guest
evengy zamatkin de cabrera.
5 years ago
Reply to  Tom Evans

Bottom of food chain most nutritious.burning fat on red elements or gas ,gross.

Lynn H
Guest
Lynn H
5 years ago
Reply to  Robert Zigler

Did you gut them?
Eels taste great fried in butter with soy and garlic, but IDK about lampreys.

Lampreys are not eels.

Eels have so many nerve endings that the pieces of meat still wiggle around a bit by themselves in the frying pan. My grandfather (on the east coast) used to catch eels and keep them in a deep kitchen sink until they were ready to be cooked. I used to play with them as a kid- trying to keep them in the sink. They are fascinating creatures. Too bad most of the waters they live in now are polluted.

Buzz
Guest
Buzz
5 years ago

Otters are amazing… adorable lil’ watershed gangsters – They really get after it! Gawd, these are awesome photos thanks for sharing them.

North west
Guest
North west
5 years ago

Unfortunately pileated woodpeckers and otters are still used for regalia so it’s good to keep quiet about your spots. $100 for a pecker head and about $1.000 for otter

Mendocino native
Guest
Mendocino native
5 years ago

You smoke eels. Thats how you eat them.

Lynn H
Guest
Lynn H
5 years ago

Are you talking eels or lampreys?

North west
Guest
North west
5 years ago

PS. The only reason we have our rivers , at least the trinity river is because of our tribal members

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
5 years ago
Reply to  North west

Yes, without them water would no longer flow downhill under the force of gravity. Thank you tribal members.

Ullr Rover
Guest
Ullr Rover
5 years ago
Reply to  North west

“North west on Otterly Delicious! said: PS. It’s usually white guys that kill…”

You sound biased.

MikeyC
Guest
MikeyC
5 years ago

😂

Lyn Stevens
Guest
Lyn Stevens
5 years ago

This is an amazing sequence. Thank you.

North west
Guest
North west
5 years ago

Ullr R.
I do know. I was a hook tender for years. One area we logged had a true albino deer. We had an all Indian crew and they all wanted to have her hide but none wanted to kill her. It was a local WC speed freak that did then sold her beautiful white skin. As for the trinity river Yes , the Hupa tribe saved it from more dams and water theft

Ullr Rover
Guest
Ullr Rover
5 years ago
Reply to  North west

You could have easily relplaced “white” with “speed freak”. Perhaps if the Indian crew didn’t want the hide the deer would not have been poached. I take issue with broad generalizations thrown out around identity and identity politics. Each one of us, regardless of genetic make up, are individually responsible for our actions in this life.

I do appreciate the Hupa effort in getting the treaty recognized for how much water should be let out at Lewiston.

Jane Doe
Guest
Jane Doe
5 years ago

💕🐾

North west
Guest
North west
5 years ago

Ullr R. Sorry about the confusion. WC ment Willowcreek NOT white guy. Even though he was

Ullr Rover
Guest
Ullr Rover
5 years ago
Reply to  North west

I referenced the comment you (apparently ) edited.

Please Check One
Guest
Please Check One
5 years ago
Reply to  North west

Speaking of Otter and his unlicensed kill, that reminds me. Remember last February 2nd, how we all cheered Punxatawney Phil’s prediction? Well, the groundhog is currently in Hawaii awaiting extradition to Minnesota on fraud and lying charges, according to his lawyers.

North west
Guest
North west
5 years ago

ullr r. Did you figure that or did Kym tell ya. Haha. You Goofy. When I know how to delete messages you’ll be the first one to know

Ullr Rover
Guest
Ullr Rover
5 years ago
Reply to  North west

No, Kym didn’t tell me. It’s an artifact of Kym’s new coding for her site (very annoying btw). It shows me old versions of her site if I don’t jump around and force it to update.

FYI “reply” to my comment (push ‘reply’) to maintain a coherent thread. If you just type into the bottom window your comment goes to the bottom.

North west
Guest
North west
5 years ago

Thanks coach but I don’t speak computer talk let alone what yer talking. I’m having fun tho😊

gunther
Guest
gunther
5 years ago

I’ve never cooked or smoked Eel, but my Yurok friends make sure I eat my share. It kind of grows on you.

Lynn H
Guest
Lynn H
5 years ago

Great photos Anne, thanks for sharing!