Otter spotted for first time in 100 years in New York City’s Bronx River

An otter was captured on camera foraging in New York City's Bronx River in early June, marking its first documented sighting in the waterway since the early 1900s, officials announced. The North American river otter, captured by a motion-activated camera, was photographed near vegetation in the Bronx River, a freshwater river that flows through New York's Bronx and empties into the East River.

The Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo scientist RJ Hawkins, who captured the image, described the moment as "incredible," emphasizing the significance of long-term wildlife monitoring and environmental restoration efforts. The Bronx River, historically treated as an open sewer due to industrial pollution, witnessed the return of species like oysters and beavers in recent years.

While the sighting of a single otter does not confirm a larger population, it indicates the river's ongoing recovery from decades of contamination. River otters, measuring up to 5 feet in length, are considered playful and skilled hunters, capable of emitting a scream audible up to 1.5 miles away. Craig Piper, director of the Bronx Zoo, expressed enthusiasm for the otter's return, crediting a coalition of public and private partners for the environmental progress.