Sutro Sam, the first river otter in San Francisco in fifty years (photo by Mila Zinkova)

The patient crowd gathered around Sutro Baths—the ruins of a 19^th century public bathing pool on the Pacific Coast—had been awaiting the appearance of “Sutro Sam,” the first river otter in San Francisco in over fifty years. And he did not disappoint—he glided in the waters and playfully rolled a few times as if posing for the cameras.

Sutro Sam is used to being in the spotlight as visitors from all over California—and the world—have traveled to get a glimpse of this celebrity otter after the Huffington Post and other notable media outlets featured his story.  Why the fascination? Aside from being almost unbearably cute, the return of the river otter after such a long absence also underscores a conservation success story.

Megan Isadore, co-founder of The River Ecology Project, is celebrating his return for just this reason. “River otters are a sentinel species in that they require healthy watersheds to thrive.  The fact that river otters can live all over San Francisco Bay and the Bay Area indicates that we humans have done something right.  It shows that we can make positive changes to our environment, and we surely need all the encouragement we can get in these environmentally tough times.  So let’s celebrate Sam, and celebrate continuing conservation and restoration of the watersheds that support all living beings.”

Watch a video of Sutro Sam:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Our attraction to Sutro Sam might also speak to something more fundamental in us—the everyday awe of seeing wild creatures, especially in unexpected places like an urban environment. Megan agrees:  “Sutro Sam is a perfect example of the joy we gain from making the changes great and small that allow wildlife to return and thrive in areas where we haven’t seen them in a long time.”

And the thrill was no less diminished for me, even thought I travel around California all the time viewing wildlife. I gave a shout of delight each time he surfaced and snapped hundreds of photos. I also met a local woman, Mila Zinkova, who has been following his antics for some time and shared her impressive knowledge—and wonderful photos with me. Like many, she returns frequently to the baths to get another glimpse.

With all his popularity, the rangers at Golden Gate National Recreation Area are asking people to act responsibly and respectfully observe Sam from a distance for both the safety of the otter and their own safety. Keeping Sam a healthy and wild otter while he remains at Sutro Baths is a priority.

With Sutro’s Sam popularity, keeping him wild and safe is a priority (photo by Beth Pratt)

As I stood on the concrete wall of the baths watching Sam, someone shouted, “Dolphins!” I simply had to turn around to view a pod of bottlenose dolphins frolicking in the ocean. Perhaps even they can’t resist catching a glimpse of San Francisco’s rare and endearing river otter.

Sutro Sam catches a meal (Photo by Bill Keener)

Harbor porpoises have returned to San Francisco Bay after 65 years (Photo by Golden Gate Cetacean Research).

When walking across the Golden Gate Bridge in 2010 with a friend, we joined a group of onlookers gazing down in delight at what we all thought were dolphins swimming beneath the bridge. I snapped several photos, yet it wasn’t until a year later, after meeting marine biologist and porpoise guru Bill Keener of Golden Gate Cetacean Research, that I discovered the significance of my sighting. He identified the animals in my photos as harbor porpoises and related the remarkable story of their return.

Marine biologist Bill Keener searching for harbor porpoises on Golden Gate Bridge (Photo Golden Gate Cetacean Research/Liittschwager)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Aside from not wanting to miss the resurgence of Beat poetry or the great burritos in the Mission, why did the harbor porpoises return? And why did they originally leave? According to Bill, several reasons might explain their reoccupation, including the reduction of pollution in the Bay. But more research is needed and Bill is dedicated to finding an answer, as knowing the cause of their departure and subsequent return is vital to ensure the porpoise becomes a permanent resident again.

As Bill observed, “The unexpected return of these animals provides a unique scientific opportunity. San Francisco Bay may now be the best place in the world to study harbor porpoises. The more we can learn about these animals in their natural habitat, the more we can do to help them survive and thrive into the future.”

To celebrate this success and to ensure the marine mammal’s continued residence in the Bay, National Wildlife Federation and Golden Gate Cetacean Research have partnered on a “Return of the Porpoise to San Francisco Bay” campaign. At this point, the National Wildlife Federation is the only major nonprofit supporting this cause and Golden Gate Cetacean Research the only organization conducting a study. To learn more about the campaign, visit www.sfbayporpoises.org.

Ranger Rick helps celebrate the return of the porpoise to San Francisco with a Cetacean friend (Photo NWF California).

Mini-Moby:the white harbor porpoise in San Francisco Bay (Photo by Golden Gate Cetacean Research).

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Google’s Turning Over a Green Leaf: Google is a large culprit for energy consumption but they are looking to be more energy efficient. They plan on expanding their alternative energy usage by designating hundreds of millions of dollars toward the cause (they might outspend the government!). They plan to start with solar thermal and wind energy. Read how Google plans to invest in energy solutions from the Wired Magazine.