The Zeiger Family Homestead Blog

Otter Neighbors

The other day I noticed some movement down on the edge of our rocks. A couple of river otters had climbed ashore to have lunch.

A couple of otters stopped by for a bite to eat (Photo: Mark Zeiger).

We see a lot of otters around here, mostly in family groups. This couple has been cruising past the beach about every three days or so. Now and then they’ll climb up on the rocks to eat the fish they catch. Usually they’re pretty cautious, but I got close enough to take a decent photo before they saw me and slipped back in the water.

They got upset with me one day for fishing off these same rocks. They make a sneezing snort that’s supposed to be intimidating. Is intimidating, I should say—Aly and I once watched an otter chase off a coyote one evening on our beach. They seem comical and playful, but I wouldn’t want to corner one for any reason.

I Can Can!

Cue Offenbach’s Orpheus In the Underworld, please . . . .

I had an excellent day fishing on Monday. While seeking out the sparse currant bushes that nestle against the cliffs on our homestead’s southern border, I realized that the set of the tide at that time created an excellent spot to fish from the rocks. In several places, the rock sloped gently down like a platform to meet the water’s edge. The southern point juts out farther into Lynn Canal than any other rocks on our property. It looked like a better place to cast for salmon than right in front of the cabin. I went home and gathered my fishing gear, then returned to try my luck.

I had good luck! In about a half hour I landed two nice pink salmon. The larger, at 26 inches, may be the largest pink I’ve ever caught.

The first fish accounted for dinner, the second one called for some decision-making. The best course would be to can the second salmon, but I was home alone—Michelle and Aly had gone to town to work.

I realized that if any canning took place that afternoon, it would fall to me.

Mark’s first effort at canning salmon (Photo: Mark Zeiger).

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Otter Neighbors

I Can Can!

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