DENVER ~ As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2026, the state of Colorado has another milestone to commemorate - the 50th anniversary of successfully reintroducing River Otters into its waterways. On July 9th, 1976, Colorado made history by successfully releasing over 100 otters into five different locations across the state.

Governor Polis expressed his excitement for this "otter-versary" and highlighted the important role these playful creatures play in maintaining the health of Colorado's rivers. He also noted that otter populations have been thriving and spreading across the western slope since their reintroduction.

The process of reintroducing River Otters began in 1976 and continued until 1991. The Colorado Division of Wildlife (now known as CPW) carefully selected five locations with high-quality otter habitat for release: Cheeseman Reservoir, the Gunnison River, the Piedra River, Rocky Mountain National Park's upper stretch of the Colorado River, and the Dolores River.

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Photos from an early river otter reintroduction conducted by Colorado Division of Wildlife show just how significant this event was for both wildlife conservation and Colorado's history. Today, Colorado is one of 21 states that have made efforts to reintroduce and foster River Otter populations.

Thanks to these efforts, otter populations in Colorado are now thriving, and CPW has shifted its focus to monitoring them. This year, they will be conducting surveys to gain a better understanding of otter populations statewide.

As Coloradans prepare to celebrate their state's sesquicentennial in 2026, they can also take pride in knowing that it marks another significant milestone - the successful reintroduction of River Otters into their natural habitat. With continued efforts towards conservation and monitoring, it is hoped that these playful creatures will continue to thrive in Colorado's rivers for many more milestones to come.

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