N O T E F R O M T H E E D I T O R - Otter Specialist Group

IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 25(1) 2008Figure 4. Modifications to a body-gripping Conibear 330 style trap to reduce chance of catching a riverotter (Lontra canadensis) (From International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 2005,http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/publications/otter/raccoon.htm, and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources2007-2008).DISCUSSIONApparently the river otter(s) had overtaken a beaver feeding /den site, consisting of arocky crevice or lair (holt in British English) modified with sticks. Along the entireescarpment of this large reservoir were innumerable crevices in the jumble of rocksalong the escarpment, affording numerous potential den sites. Neither typical beaverbank dens nor stick lodges were observed in Navajo Reservoir from 2004 to 2007although beaver sign was common. In apparent response to Navajo Reservoir’shighly fluctuating water levels, gradually sloping or rocky banks, and lack of a welldefinedriparian tree border; beavers modify cracks in rocks by piling sticks to createa makeshift den. Beavers are forced to be opportunistic in choice and modification ofshelters and otters respond accordingly. In other parts of their range beaver, with theirden and dam-building behavior, augment otter habitat (Polechla, 1987; Melquist et al.,2003). In the present case, beavers provided insulation and protection with their cutbranches in the resting site/den that otters had used.- 18 -