Flashback: Colorado began reintroducing otters in 1976 — decades after they were eliminated from the state — with efforts continuing through 1991, according to Parks and Wildlife director Laura Clellan.
By the numbers: 120 otters were introduced during that span in five locations, including a stretch of the Colorado River running through Rocky Mountain National Park.
Surveys and field observations between 2003 and 2017 suggest they're well distributed throughout the state's Western Slope, per Clellan's statement.
What's next: The state is surveying the species to determine their current population and whether there are areas to expand their range.
