I saw four or five of them in the North Fork Nehalem river back in May. They were headed upstream, and had to climb up onto the bank to get past one of the falls. Highlight of the hike.
Deschutes River day hike
Re: Deschutes River day hike
You know exactly what to do.
There's no need to be afraid.
Keep walking.
There's no need to be afraid.
Keep walking.
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- Posts: 194
- Joined: December 3rd, 2009, 3:19 pm
- Location: Goldendale
Re: Deschutes River day hike
In all my hikes at Deschutes I've never seen a river critter, which only means I've not spotted them. I've seen a few in the John Day at Cottonwood Canyon, also in the Crooked River at Smith Rock State Park. A few years back, maybe five?, I believe there was an article about introducing, or re-introducing, fishers to the Deschutes. Shortly after that article, I talked with a couple along the upper trail who thought they'd spotted a weasel crossing the road heading down to the river.
It made sense to me that they'd likely spotted a fisher as what they described didn't suggest "weasel" to me. Anyone know?
It made sense to me that they'd likely spotted a fisher as what they described didn't suggest "weasel" to me. Anyone know?
- retired jerry
- Posts: 14424
- Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
Re: Deschutes River day hike
I saw one in Rogue River a couple weeks ago
Re: Deschutes River day hike
Otters are quite common in Oregon and I've seen them in the Deschutes, Columbia, Willamette, Imnaha, coastal rivers and bays, etc. People who live on houseboats in Portland get their outside stuff regularly tampered with by otters. I do seem to be seeing them more often these days.
Fishers are rare and they're arboreal forest creatures; they eat porcupines. There have been various reintroduction plans into old-growth forest areas. Weasels are very small and don't usually swim. In the water, the dark creatures with long tails are going to be otters or (much smaller) mink. Both are common.arieshiker wrote: ↑December 19th, 2020, 7:18 amA few years back, maybe five?, I believe there was an article about introducing, or re-introducing, fishers to the Deschutes.
Re: Deschutes River day hike
I saw some great blue herons on the Deschutes Today. I've seen otters in unlikely places: Swale Canyon and even once in Wahtum Lake. They really do get around.
- adamschneider
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Re: Deschutes River day hike
This discussion really otter be split off into its own thread.
(I swear to god, I did NOT come here to make a pun. I started to type "ought to" and things just went downhill from there. )
(I swear to god, I did NOT come here to make a pun. I started to type "ought to" and things just went downhill from there. )
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- Posts: 194
- Joined: December 3rd, 2009, 3:19 pm
- Location: Goldendale
Re: Deschutes River day hike
Perhaps we otter create a skiing post for things that go downhill - no end in sight.
- Double Tree
- Posts: 248
- Joined: September 6th, 2012, 10:51 am
Re: Deschutes River day hike
Yes! That's exactly what the last critter looked like. Case closed, I saw otters.adamschneider wrote: ↑December 19th, 2020, 7:54 pmThis discussion really otter be split off into its own thread.
(I swear to god, I did NOT come here to make a pun. I started to type "ought to" and things just went downhill from there. )
Kelly