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Elkhorn Slough Otter

Floating face up
(1 of 18) (14168 views)

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An otter floats face up to groom and to eat. This particular otter was doing neither at the moment.

Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:02:30 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100230_7583TNT
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Swimming nose back
(2 of 18) (9223 views)

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This otter was swimming backward with its nose leaned back in the direction of travel.

Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:22 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100322_2800BCX
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Grooming self
(3 of 18) (9237 views)

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Otters groom themselves to clean food off and to force bubbles into their coats as an aid to bouyancy.

Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:24 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100324_7586TNT
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Wider shot
(4 of 18) (9195 views)

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A wider shot of the same otter grooming itself.

Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:26 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100326_2801BCX
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Closeup of the head
(5 of 18) (9181 views)

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A closeup of the otter's head with its eyes shut.

Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:26 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100326_7587TNT
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The eyes open
(6 of 18) (9220 views)

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A closeup of the otter's head as its eyes began to open.

Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:28 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100328_7588BCX
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Began to swim again
(7 of 18) (9177 views)

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A closeup of the otter as it tilted its head back and began to swim again.

Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:30 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100330_7589TNT
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Swimming away
(8 of 18) (9135 views)

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Wide shot of the same otter swimming away.

Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:32 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100332_2803BCX
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Swimming away close up
(9 of 18) (9187 views)

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Close up of the same otter swimming away.

Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:32 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100332_7590TNT
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Faced forward
(10 of 18) (9180 views)

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The otter rotated (rolled) its head to face forward.

Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:34 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100334_7591TNT
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Face up again
(11 of 18) (9178 views)

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A wide shot of the same otter seconds later face up again.

Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:36 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100336_2804BCX
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Rolled under water
(12 of 18) (9163 views)

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The otter rolled completely over to become mostly under water.

Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:50 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100350_7592TNT
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Otter surfaced again
(13 of 18) (9146 views)

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The otter surfaced again with eyes shut.

Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:50 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100350_7593TNT
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Curled with feet touching face
(14 of 18) (9161 views)

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This otter surfaced with its tail touching its face.

Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:52 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100352_7594TNT
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Amid a swirl of water
(15 of 18) (9200 views)

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The otter surfaced amid a swirl of water.

Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:54 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100354_7594TNT
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Submerged again
(16 of 18) (9248 views)

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The otter submerged again as part of a leisurly roll.

Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:04:02 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100402_7596TNT
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Gooming again
(17 of 18) (9132 views)

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On its back and grooming itself again.

Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:04:32 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100432_2807BCX
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Off away again
(18 of 18) (9157 views)

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The otter departed by swimming away and diving.

Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:04:36 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100436_7597TNT
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