The Otter Spotters
A Wildlife Adventure in Alaska
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“Stick with me and you will have a lot of firsts.” That is what Turk said to me after he asked me to marry him. He had no idea how true this statement would be, for both of us. One of these “firsts” occurred in July 2007. I found myself, with Turk, in a fifteen-foot rubber boat (Zodiac) … in the ocean … in Alaska … conducting counts of sea otters. As we slowed down the motor to go over the wake from a large boat, the water suddenly seemed to part and a humpback whale lurched vertically in front of us. Its eye stared at us as it rose and then slammed its head back into the water. The splash created two-foot waves and our Zodiac spun sideways as it tilted forty-five degrees. As I quickly grabbed a rope on the side of the boat, my body slid toward the water. My heart was pounding and it was hard to catch a breath. We did not dare move the boat for fear of the whale coming up under us and knocking us into the water. The whale definitely was aware of our location. The waves settled down and my heart eventually started to beat in a normal rhythm. I should have known that we could not be in Prince William Sound without having a close call. These types of experiences occurred on a regular basis when we studied sea otters in the early 1980s. The Otter Spotters: A Wildlife Adventure in Alaska tells the story of a young couple conducting research from a remote tent camp and an uninhabited island in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Despite getting their seventeen-foot Boston Whaler boat swamped with water, encountering bears at camp, being nearly washed away during a dangerous thunderstorm, and having endless mechanical difficulties with their boat, they succeeded in accomplishing one of the most comprehensive studies of Alaskan sea otters. Reading this book, one gains a deep appreciation for the sea otter's difficult life and can understand why they are one of America's most endearing animals. However, this is not merely an adventure story, nor simply a compilation of factual descriptions of sea otter behavior and natural history. It is also a rare insider's view of the true essence of conducting wildlife research. It describes the day to day drudgery of waking up at 4:00 AM each morning and driving a boat in pelting rain to check capture nets, to the evening brainstorming sessions under the warm glow of a Coleman lantern to try to interpret the days' findings, and occasionally experiencing that exhilarating Eureka moment that makes it all worthwhile.
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About the Book
“This is, indeed, an “Alaskan adventure.” For two years this resourceful couple experienced intense and dangerous situations, yet they persevered and learned a tremendous amount about sea otters.”
—Ancel M. Johnson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sea Otter Biologist, retired
A white-headed male sea otter paddles on his back, patrolling his territory, while he rubs his round fuzzy face with his dexterous forepaws. Suddenly, he notices a young couple on shore and pops straight up in the water to have a better look. As two people stare back at him through a high-powered telescope, these three have one thing in common—curiosity.
The Otter Spotters chronicles the incredible journey of Minnesotans Dave and Judy Garshelis, who spent over a year in the wilderness of Prince William Sound, Alaska, studying sea otters. While working from remote field locations and traveling by open skiff, they faced relentless rain, rough seas, bears, mechanical failures, and perilous mishaps, all while completing one of the most comprehensive studies of this fascinating species. This captivating story includes unforgettable adventures, as well as detailed documentation of the otters’ social relationships, feeding, activity patterns, and breeding behaviors. Here is a rare insider’s view of the true essence of wildlife research: from the day-to-day drudgery of checking capture nets at 4:00 AM to evening brainstorming sessions under the warm glow of a Coleman lantern, interspersed with the occasional “Eureka!” moments that make it all worthwhile.