Mickey Mouse, Strip Malls, and Wild Otters?

Mickey Mouse and shopping malls, palm trees and sandy white beaches, it all comes to mind when we hear the word Florida. But our Water State state offers so much more. By venturing beyond the ever-encroaching suburbs, there are wild waters to be found. A Florida that’s alive and breathing. 

There are mystical bogs to sink into - sounds of bellowing alligators and migrating swallow-tailed kites just behind the majestic oaks. There are turtles sunning on logs while garfish hide in the shadows underneath the surface. Crystal blue water bubbles up through the porous lime rock as Florida boasts having the highest concentration of springs on the planet. These places are home to the North American river otter. A cute, charismatic, and yet ferocious mammal.

As a conservation photographer I often find myself questioning my human life while seeking to lose myself into theirs. The more time I spend observing otters, the more I begin to think like them. The cypress knees become paths; the roots become homes. I started to learn their moods and began to see a soul beyond the species filled with playfulness, intelligence and sense of family.

Otters are a top predator, they hunt and kill other wildlife but compared to us humans, they aren’t fueled by greed or power, but solely by their instinct for survival. They are an essential part of a healthy ecosystem and serve as an indicator species. 

One of my most humbling moments was watching a female otter teach her pup how to eat a musk turtle, flipping the turtle upside down so it could not escape. On another occasion, two otters joined together to chase down a huge fish, leaping their bodies out of the water and shortly after, carrying off their bounty together while an alligator trailed behind them. These encounters are possible by passive observation and purposely missing many photo opportunities in order to gain trust of the wild creature. 

After spending many hours with river otters, I’ve learned to anticipate their next move, I learned the right time to press the shutter, became in tune with their moods and started to understand the different ways of communication. I do my best not to interrupt their behavior - as my body sits still my heart rises and flutters with each passive observation. I have developed a sense of empathy I’ve never felt before. But I also know these otters are wild and never “mine”. They do not seek my friendship; they need my stewardship. 

One day an otter quickly grabbed my attention - she stood out from the rest and I nicknamed her Hazel. Hazel had a missing canine tooth on her bottom jaw but it didn’t slow her down. Over the last few years, I’ve been fortunate to catch glimpses of her life on the river, one small dramatic episode at a time. 

Alligators, bald eagles, owls, drunk frat boys chasing after her, boats and hurricanes, she managed not only to stay safe herself, but she managed to grow and nurture a family.

Over the years she has raised many pups. Not just any pups but buoyant, disoriented, and unable to swim little ones. They are hungry and dependent on her. I carefully watched her as she has taught them everything about survival - hopefully instilling her wisdom at the same time. I’ve got to see her offspring grow and transform into excellent swimmers and hunters. All of them have different personalities. One of her pups had a unique white snout - I nicknamed her “Milky”. She now seems to have a litter of her own. 

Every so often I witness Hazel and Milky meeting up on the river with their new families. Their bodies swirling together underneath the water, as if hugging each other. Chirps and grunts signaling they will all join for a grooming session on the riverbank. I love the thought of them being safe here, but I worry about them. 

In the winter when Floridians are getting into the Christmas spirit otter hunting season opens on December 1st. The season, three months long, allows hunters to deploy traps and snares. Unfortunately, in addition to encroaching shopping malls and subdivisions, otters have to survive the demand of the pelt trade - mostly fueled by China. To make matters worse the hunting season coincides with their mating season. Mother otters can be trapped while their young pups are still dependent on nourishment and life skills training. This scenario ensures the pups won’t survive as the family unit needs to stay intact for nearly a full year.

By venturing beyond the ever-encroaching suburbs, there are wild waters to be found. A Florida that’s alive and breathing.

Florida otters have made an inspiring comeback from the brink of extinction over the decades - but they find themselves with increasing pressures to hunt successfully, survive, and to nourish their young. Just in the river both Milky and Hazy call home there is increasing recreation, subdivision encroachment, water quality issues, and spring flow concerns. But you can help!

Support these organizations:

• Florida Otter Spotters - a group of conservation biologists, citizen scientists and otter enthusiasts working to understand and conserve Florida’s river otters.
• International Otter Survival Fund (IOSF) - an organization that cares for injured otters, takes action to stop the otter fur & pet trade, and educates the public. 
• The Water State - a team of Floridians redefining the state and proving we're more than just sunshine.

Guest article written by Linda Wilinski - © 2026 Linda Willinski. All Rights Reserved.

Linda is a published conservation photographer, Florida Master Naturalist, and speaker specializing in capturing life above and below the surface of Florida’s freshwater springs. Wilinski believes empathy is one of the most powerful tools to create change. One of her favorite subjects is the North American river   otter. Linda collaborates with local and international otter conservation groups to enhance protections for this species. She was recently awarded an “Otter Oscar” from the International Otter Survival Fund for her ethical photography. Her work has been featured by organizations such as the Florida Wildlife Federation, Conservation Florida, and the National Forest Association, among many others.

 “To truly connect with Florida’s wild creatures, we must strive to see the world from their perspective and act accordingly.” 

© 2026 The Water State. All Rights Reserved.