Cape Clawless Otter Sighting

Recently, during an early morning dog walk at Scarborough Beach, I stumbled upon two inquisitive Cape clawless otters playfully navigating the stream. At first it was a rustle in the reeds that caught my attention. I stopped on the boardwalk, as I was passing over a small pool along the river way which leads down to the beach and eventually the sea. My dogs Cassie and Alba were just as inquisitive and seemingly unsure of the sound. Then my eyes caught the movement of two of them, swimming directly towards me. They were so engrossed in each other that they hadn’t quite noticed me or my two entranced dogs watching their sleek, agile bodies moved with grace through the water. At first it seemed like they may have been courting each other, or at least the male was trying his look. But, then they spotted me, at first they were a bit startled but then they started a fascinating behavior. As they swam around the pool bobbing back under the water and popping back up again snorting and hissing. Then they both swam directly underneath the bridge and to the banks underneath where I was standing and began to bark and rear themselves up onto their back legs opening their mouths.

These animals are usually somewhat shy and not easily seen, however these two seemed just as interested in my and my dogs as we were in them.

I managed to snap some photos here and I have put a reel on our Instagram page if you are interested in seeing the sighting for yourselves.