TRANSCRIPT:
Hello this is Dr. Tom Mullikin with SCDNR for Into the Wild.
A smooth slide down a muddy bank, a trail of tracks, or a quick ripple beside a log may be the only sign that a river otter has passed through.
Otters are found in every major river drainage in South Carolina and are especially common in coastal marshes and blackwater swamps. Their long bodies, webbed feet, dense fur, and powerful tails make them strong swimmers. They feed mostly on fish, crayfish, crabs, and other aquatic animals.
Because otters move through streams, ponds, wetlands, and marshes, clean connections between those places matter. A healthy waterway is not just a narrow line on a map. For an otter, it can be a road, a hunting ground, and a home stretching for miles.