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Otters encountered today
3
Otters seen this
winter
8
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Lesson
Plans
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Tonight we are camped next to a narrow section
of Knee Lake. As is often the case with large lakes, open
water can be found in very narrow sections of the lake
all winter long. Lake currents force warm water from the
bottom of the lake up to the surface as water flows through
the narrows. This warm water keeps these "narrows"
free of ice all winter long. |
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For us, narrows are dangerous places where we have
to be very careful, because falling through the ice
would be very bad. However, many animals are drawn to
the open water that these narrows provide. This evening,
as Dylan and I were making a hole in the ice to get
water, we saw three otters
playing in and around the open water.
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Most of an otter's favorite foods are found underwater.
Otters love to eat fish, crayfish, mussels, frogs,
and other aquatic critters. In the winter they are usually
found near open water. They are as much at home in the
water as they are on the ice. One minute the otters
were swimming in the water and the next they were running
and sliding on the ice.
I can't imagine wanting to take a swim on a day like
today!
Keep exploring!
Dave
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