Program Overview: River otters were first documented in Yosemite in 2014, and biologists are still working out what their return and presence mean ecologically for the park. Spend a day along Yosemite’s waterways with Rob Grasso — Yosemite National Park’s aquatic ecologist — and a Yosemite Conservancy naturalist guide, looking at the park through the lens of the animals that live in and around its rivers and ponds.
While it’s unlikely you will see otters on the program, you will learn how researchers track a secretive, wide-ranging animal using camera traps, scat and DNA collection, and scent detection dogs, and how those methods build a picture of where otters are and where they’re headed next. You’ll also get into the harder question behind the research: otters eat frogs, so how can we protect Yosemite’s recovering populations of endangered mountain yellow-legged frogs that are still fragile? Understanding where otters range helps biologists decide where frogs can safely be reintroduced.
Along the way, you’ll look for signs of otters and other aquatic life, and come away with a much richer sense of how Yosemite’s rivers, meadows, and ponds fit together.
Know Before You Go:
- Program date: Thursday, May 20; 9 am–3 pm
- Program location: Yosemite Valley
- What’s Included
- A full day of guided instruction with a Yosemite Conservancy Naturalist Guide and Yosemite National Park’s aquatic ecologist
- Free day on Friday, May 21, to explore the park on your own
- Park entry pass (valid for program dates only)
- Shared tent camping (camping dates cannot be altered)
- No discount is available if you choose not to use the gate pass or campsite.
- Camping Information: Arrive Wednesday, May 19, after 12 pm. Depart Saturday, May 22, by 11 am. Two campsites are shared between all participants, each with space for 5–6 tents and equipped with a picnic table, bear locker, and fire pit. Within two weeks of registration, select “Camping” or “Not Camping” in your online portal to reserve your spot in a shared campsite. Spaces are limited and are available on a first come, first served basis. Access your portal through your confirmation email, and check your spam folder if needed.
- Camping Location: Upper Pines Campground
- Important Notes: Due to the shared nature of the campsites, we cannot accommodate RVs, campers, or car camping. If you would like a private campsite, have an RV/camper, or plan to sleep in your car, you’ll need to make your own reservation. Please note that camping is reserved for program participants only.
What’s Not Included
- Gear or meals during your program
- Camping gear or meals in the shared campsites
- Transportation
Experience Level: All levels welcome!
