Welcome to the North American Otter Chronicles
By Victor L. Camp, Editor

Welcome to the first issue of the North American Otter Chronicles (NOAC). This publication was established to provide a broader scope of information than provided by governmental wildlife agencies and provide a source of recent information on the otter conservation and otter research initiatives of otter scientists in North America. Information on conservation, research, education, and captive management initiatives for otter species in North American zoos and aquariums are considered essential subjects for inclusion in the Chronicles. The articles of the Chronicles will be focused primarily on the three otter species inhabiting North America: the sea otter (Enhydra lutris), North American river otter (Lontra canadensis ), and the neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis). The Chronicles will periodically accept article contributions about other otter species from scientists around the globe, especially if pertinent to otters in North America. The Chronicles will be published each year in the Spring and Fall.

The North American Otter Chronicles needed a permanent home with a recognized publisher of scientific literature. This ensures the Chronicles will be maintained into perpetuity as well as grow and enrich our knowledge of the North American otters. It is a great pleasure to announce the IUCN Otter Specialist Group (IUCN/OSG) is hosting the Chronicles on their Bulletin website (the professional journal of the IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group). The IUCN/OSG Bulletin is also hosting the historical issues of The River Otter Journal.

It is important for all of us to remember the historical content of The River Otter Journal published from the Fall of 1991 to the Winter of 2013 by a dedicated cadre of River Otter Alliance volunteers. The Journal issues are an important source of information for all otter scientists. Many of you are current otter scientists familiar with The River Otter Journal. It is requested you direct current and potential otter research scientists you mentor to The River Otter Journal. And, of course the North American Otter Chronicles. Should you wish to know more about the contents of The River Otter Journal and access the historical issues of the Journal these can be accessed at the following link: https://riverotterjournal.org. Once in the site please take a moment to read “About the River Otter Journal”. Scroll down and click the red bordered box, entitled LEARN MORE, to learn “About the River Otter Journal”.  After reviewing the contents of  The River Otter Journal it is hoped you are encouraged to make a commitment to contribute articles and information to the North American Otter Chronicles.

If the North American Otter Chronicles is to provide recent information on otter conservation and otter research initiatives of scientists in North America it is essential the primary sources for this information are made available for review through the Chronicles. Bibliographies are considered the essential source of this otter information. These bibliographies lead us to scientific publications readily available on the internet using only the citation title to search for and download a publication. A bibliography on the sea otter has recently been compiled by this editor and is available in the IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin at the following link: IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin Volume 38D (2021). This latest otter bibliography is the final partner of the bibliographies compiled on the North American river otter and the neotropical otter. Hyperlinks to the annual revisions of these three bibliographies will be posted on the last page of each issue of the Chronicles. The Chronicles continues to develop the availability of resources for existing and future otter scientists.

As you review the last page of this and future Chronicles issues there is always a list of the names and duties of the Chronicles’ Editorial Board Members. Of particular importance to the Chronicles are the scientific advisors. The last of the scientific advisors to be appointed are the otter rehabilitation scientific advisors for the three North American otter species. The North American river otter and neotropical otter are biologically comparable and will be managed under one rehabilitation advisor(s) as will be the sea otter. Within the next several months the Chronicles will appoint the otter rehabilitation scientific advisors for all three North American otter species. The Chronicles is currently working with the zoo and aquarium community to define individuals who will assume the responsibilities of the otter rehabilitation scientific advisors. The responsibility for otter rehabilitation in North America has been assumed, in a large part, by the zoo and aquarium community as well as veterinarians and staff associated with local wildlife rehabilitation and reintroduction organizations. Members of the North American Otter Specialist Group and local wildlife rehabilitators have also assumed responsibilities for rescue, rehabilitation, and reintroduction.

In summary, I wish to thank Professor Thomas Serfass for his guidance as I ventured through the development of the Chronicles and Professors Nicole Duplaix and Arno Gutleb for their commitment to publishing the Chronicles in the IUCN/Otter Specialist Group Bulletin website. I also wish to thank Lesley Wright, of the IUCN Otter Specialist Group, for her knowledge and creative talents as we developed the design of the Chronicles publication and the Chronicles website. Lesley also formatted The River Otter Journal Issues and incorporated them into the Chronicles website.

Victor L. Camp, Editor (29 August 2022)