River otters photographed on campus for the first time!
For the first time, we have images and video of river otters enjoying the Blind Brook Forest right here on campus!
River otters caught on tape!
Environmental Studies student Robyn Graygor had no idea what she would find when she started her senior project research looking to catalog wildlife using logjam crossings of Blind Brook right here on campus.
As the photos started coming in, she found that not only did the Blind Brook Forest hold an amazing array of wildlife species, it also was now home to river otters!
This elusive and incredibly charismatic critter is recovering its local population and we are so happy to see them enjoying our campus forest for the first time!
The Blind Brook Forest is part of the Purchase College Nature Preserve
The Blind Brook Forest where Robyn found the river otters runs down the entire east side of our campus (green area in the map below), following the flow of Blind Brook. This area has a unique ecological value because it includes both forested and freshwater habitats, where river otters can find food to eat and places to sleep. We plan to keep monitoring this population of river otters and hope to see evidence of breeding in the future!
What to learn more?
Follow @purchase_env on instagram to see videos and more photos.
Come hear Robyn share her results at the Utter Sciences Research Symposium on May 3, 2025.