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Stopping to admire a rosebay rhododendron in bloom, we saw a slight movement off the right, front corner of the boat. Just as we turned to look, the shape quickly & silently slipped from the rocks into the water. With gasps and exclamations, we realized we just caught a glimpse of a river otter, trying its best to make its getaway, unseen. We followed slowly at a safe distance and to our delight, instead of just one, we found three sleek, brown-furred cuties swimming together. These curious but wary creatures graciously allowed us several opportunities to snap our pictures; seemingly as interested in us as we were of them. After assessing the situation for several minutes, they must have decided we posed no threat as they casually swam away… off to do what otters do. Otters thrive in the Jocassee Gorges and were so abundant at one time the Cherokee people named one of their lower towns Tsi-ya-hi, or ‘Place of the otter’. This present-day community is now known as Cheohee Valley, in the Tamassee area of Oconee County. ~Sheryl White, JLT naturalist guide and resident of Tamassee