River otters emerge from a stream off of Lincoln Creek near Galvin on Tuesday to take a look at a curious Chronicle photographer. “River otters have long, streamlined bodies, short legs, webbed toes and long, tapered tails — all adaptations for their mostly aquatic lives,” according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. “Their short thick fur is a rich brown above, and lighter, with a silvery sheen, below. Adult male river otters average 4 feet in length, including the tail, and weigh 20 to 28 pounds. Female adults are somewhat smaller than males. Although seldom seen, river otters are relatively common throughout Washington in ponds, lakes, rivers, sloughs, estuaries, bays and in open waters along the coast. In colder locations, otters frequent areas that remain ice-free in winter — rapids, the outflows of lakes and waterfalls. River otters avoid polluted waterways, but will seek out a concentrated food source upstream in urban areas.”
