Bronx River

This is a big show about New York City because this story comes from the New York Post.

For the first time in about 100 years, a North American river otter has been spotted in the Bronx River.

The otter was photographed by a motion-activated camera on June 23rd as part of a long-term wildlife monitoring project.

The camera was operated by local scientist R.J. Hawkins with oversight from the Wildlife Conservation Society's Education Department at the Bronx Zoo.

The Wildlife Conservation Society says that it appears to be the first documented sighting of a river otter in the Bronx since the early 1900s.

River otters were once found throughout New York's waterways, but pollution, habitat degradation, and unregulated trapping drove them out of many areas.

The Bronx River became so polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and just plain old garbage that it was inhospitable to many native species.

but decades of cleanup and habitat restoration have gradually brought the river back to life.

I grew up DJing on my homie's ironing board with his mom because we couldn't afford somewhere to put our turntables.

I grew up going to Cedar Park, 82 Schoolyard, Echo Park, Bronx River, Rosedale, Nine Projects, 371, Ecstasy Garage, Galaxy 2000.

I even made it into the Disco Fever before it closed.

Right? That's a personal experience of hip hop that no one can take from me.

We hope you enjoy listening.

One of our regular listeners, Laura, suggested we mention that a North American river otter has been spotted in the Bronx River in New York City for the first time in about 100 years.

Thanks to the efforts of local groups like the Bronx River Alliance, the river is clean enough and vibrant enough for the otters.

Thanks for the suggestion, Laura.

And all you others out there, please share any good environmental news stories with us.

So to have one back in the river shows just how much the river has been restored over the years.

But rewind 50 years, and the Bronx River was not in good shape.

There was a lot of pollution in the river, a lot of dumping of, like, trash and tires, and there was a lot of industry along the river that they would just dump their waste into the river as well.

Over the years, community members, nonprofits, and local leaders worked to clean it up and restore the habitat.

Mm

... didn't even know how to get on the, uh, the, the what Bronx highway to take, the Bronx River with the Brooklyn.

And there was no navigation.

No navigation.

1,000 to 3,000 yellowjackets can occupy a large established nest, while lanternflies and ticks appear to be everywhere.

For the first time in roughly 100 years, a wild North American river otter has been documented along the Bronx River.

The Wildlife Conservation Society Bronx Zoo announced the milestone in August.

River otters are highly sensitive to pollution and require clean water and abundant fish to survive, so the return signals a healthier, recovering ecosystem.

1,000 to 3,000 yellow jackets can occupy a large established nest, while lanternflies and ticks appear to be everywhere.

For the first time in roughly 100 years, a wild North American river otter has been documented along the Bronx River.

The Wildlife Conservation Society Bronx Zoo announced the milestone in August.

River otters are highly sensitive to pollution and require clean water and abundant fish to survive, so the return signals a healthier, recovering ecosystem.

I mean, you can believe what you want, but the fucking...

People from the Bronx who just found otters in the Bronx River for the first time since the 1800s.

But has anyone checked before?

Yeah, they've been checking.

We hope you enjoy listening.

One of our regular listeners, Laura, suggested we mention that a North American river otter has been spotted in the Bronx River in New York City for the first time in about 100 years.

Thanks to the efforts of local groups like the Bronx River Alliance, the river is clean enough and vibrant enough for the otters.

Thanks for the suggestion, Laura.

And all you others out there, please share any good environmental news stories with us.