Welcome Back, Otter

Recently, a North American River Otter was spotted in the Bronx River. So what, right? I mean, otters are water-loving animals, and presumably, they like rivers (since it’s in their name).

And, since the Bronx River is a river (as far as I can surmise given its name), it’s no stretch to think that river otters would hang out in the Bronx River. (Is that the transitive property? I never know.)

So, what’s the big deal, right? Well, it IS a big deal if you’re into stuff like rivers, otters, the Bronx or the environment, and the gravity of something returning AFTER 100 YEARS.

I heard this story on public radio. And since then, I’ve heard it a number of times on other media. And while it might seem like just another a cute, human-interest story, it’s much bigger than it sounds.

I won’t bore you with the entire story (you can find it on your own if you want), but here’s the gist. Apparently, this “Bronx River Otter” (I’m giving this one a moniker) was the first one seen in this waterway in 100 years. Why? According to the news story, river otters (unlike rats, another popular Bronx inhabitant) are highly susceptible to contaminated waters, and for years (I guess at least 100), the Bronx River has been “less than clean enough” for some species to survive and thrive.

But now, the river is cleaning up its act (or I should say, someone is cleaning up the river, and though I’m not a New Yorker, I applaud and thank those people). And that commitment has resulted in evidence of native species (like the river otter) returning.

Again, I don’t have all the details, and admittedly, I caught about two minutes of a discussion between the radio host and the guy who’s researching all this (the river, the otters, the Bronx, etc.), so what I’ve shared so far is about as far as I’ve waded into this river/otter story.

But from the little bit I heard, it sounded like progress is being made; like things at least in one part of the world are getting better.

Now, as someone who lives in the Upper Midwest, do I care about the Bronx River?  Well, yes and no, if I’m honest. I mean, I don’t “not” care about it. But I also don’t think about the Bronx River often (or at all). Fact is, until I heard the story, I didn’t even know there was such a thing as the Bronx River. (To me, it sounds like it might be old Mafia slang for where people go when they “get dead” …. Hey Junior, get Tony and Jimmy 4 Eyes and yous put Rocco in da trunk and send him up da Bronx River, capisce?)

But yes, I do care about the Bronx River just like I care about other waterways, forests, mountain ranges, species and communities of people (whether I’ve heard of them or not). Because it matters when these things are being damaged or destroyed, usually because of something we did.

So, yes, I care about the Bronx River and the river otter … and the folks who live near the Bronx River. I can’t say I care more about the Bronx River than any other, but I’m aware of some of the myriad  problems rivers are experiencing, and how those problems are trickling (pun intended) into our lives, and how that could affect our future.

“And what about otters, Dave? Do you care about them too?” Well, like with rivers, I like to think I care about all animals, so yes, on some level, I care about otters (and in this case, river otters). Again, do I care more about river otters than other animals, or even other types of otters? I can’t say I do, but let’s just say I’m pulling for them, and I hope their reintegration to the Bronx River (and hopefully other rivers) is successful and fruitful for them and for the river.  

So, I want to reiterate that this is a much bigger story than it appears. Why? Because it means things can change … for the better: in our lives, in our communities, and in our lakes, rivers, forests and mountain ranges. Things can improve, maybe a little and maybe a lot, if we try. If we care. If we believe. And if we work together, sometimes for something that doesn’t necessarily affect us every day.

I’ll admit, I don’t know why or how things have gotten better in the Bronx River, but they have, and that’s enough to make me smile. And to give me hope about so many things in this world.

Now, maybe you think everything is already great in the world. I’d be shocked if you do. But if you do (or if you simply don’t care about otters, rivers or the environment), I guess you probably couldn’t care less about this little thing, this otter that’s been seen in a place where it used to live but hasn’t for 100 years.

And yes, it’s a little thing (in the grand scheme of things we need to change or fix), and maybe it doesn’t affect your daily life. It really doesn’t affect mine either.

But it makes me realize that all the little, positive things we do, the ways we work together, challenge one another and truly look beyond our own immediate needs and wants, that’s when good things happen.

Maybe some of these things will take 100 years, or maybe something can change tomorrow. Regardless, we owe it to ourselves, our communities and to everyone who comes after us to work to make things better.

And that’s why it’s a big deal (to me anyway) that the river otter is back in the Bronx River … where it belongs.

© 2026 David R. Haznaw