NewsKRON4October 26, 2026San Francisco County
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District records first North American river otter on San Mateo County coast in over a century
Photo: KRON4
A remote wildlife camera at Cloverdale Ranch Open Space Preserve in Pescadero captured a North American river otter, marking the first documented return of the native species to the Pacific-facing side of the San Francisco Peninsula since the 1800s. Conservationists and biologists attribute the return to habitat preservation, watershed restoration, and land stewardship following historical population declines caused by the 19th-century fur trade and pollution.
Read the full story at KRON4Why It Matters
The sighting marks the return of a native species to a historic range from which it was absent for over a hundred years, signaling ecosystem recovery in protected San Mateo County watersheds.
Key Facts
- A North American river otter was recorded by a remote wildlife camera at Cloverdale Ranch Open Space Preserve in Pescadero.
- This sighting marks the first documented presence of the species on the Pacific-facing side of the San Francisco Peninsula since the 1800s.
- The announcement was made public on Monday by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.
- Historically, river otters ranged from Alaska down to Santa Barbara County along the west coast.
- Populations experienced severe declines due to the 19th-century fur trade and pollution.
- Biologists note that river otters serve as vital bioindicators because they require aquatic systems capable of supporting complex food webs.
Who's Mentioned
locationPescadero“Area where Cloverdale Ranch Open Space Preserve is located.”PersonMegan Isadore“Executive director of River Otter Ecology Project.”locationBay Area“Region from which river otters went missing in the early 1900s.”locationAlaska“Northern limit of the river otters' historic range along the west coast of North”locationCloverdale Ranch Open Space Preserve“Open space preserve in Pescadero where the remote wildlife camera recorded the o”locationSan Mateo County“Location on the California coast where the river otter was sighted.”OrganizationMidpeninsula Regional Open Space District“Open space district that announced the sighting and manages Cloverdale Ranch.”locationSanta Barbara County“Southern limit of the river otters' historic range along the west coast of North”locationSan Francisco Peninsula“Region where river otters had been missing from the Pacific-facing side since th”PersonMatt Sharp Chaney“Midpen biologist who provided commentary on bioindicators.”otherNorth American river otter“Native wildlife species observed on the San Mateo County coast for the first tim”OrganizationRiver Otter Ecology Project“Conservation organization providing commentary on the sighting.”