RON HENGGELER

The otter, Sutro Sam as he has been dubbed by his fans – was first spotted by bird-watchers in late September at the ruins of the old swimming house.

The largest pond at Sutro is perfect otter habitat. It is next to the ocean and is filled with fresh water from an underground seep. That allows the otter to dine on abundant local fare, including birds, mussels and, best of all, the hapless descendants of aquarium fish dumped into the pond by residents over the years. . He can hunt in the ocean and also in the biggest bath, where I hear people have been putting goldfish for years. He’s been seen eating these great big golden fish that look like carp. He eats those like potato chips.

David walking down the path to the Sutro Baths ruins

Visitors to the Sutro Baths looking for Sutro Sam

Looking out to the Pacific from a wall of the Sutro Baths

"This otter is the first otter recorded in 50 years in San Francisco, and as far as I know he is the only otter in San Francisco," said Megan Isadore, the co-founder and director of outreach and education for the River Otter Ecology Project, which is tracking otter sightings around the Bay Area. "He's a beautiful animal, well fed. He appears to be perfectly happy and not afraid of people."

A photographer waiting for Sam to resurface. . .(when Sam is underwater, one can track his path by following the bubbles)

Nobody knows where the cuddly-looking quadruped came from or why he picked such an unusual spot, but Isadore and others believe he must have swum across the Golden Gate from Marin County.

Waiting for Sam to reappear

Visitors on the walls of the Baths, watching Sam feed and play

Although the exact number in the Bay Area is not known, scientists say the river otter population has been slowly recovering since the 1972 passage of the federal Clean Water Act. Sutro Sam was first spotted by bird-watchers in late September at the ruins of the old swimming complex near the Cliff House. The playful mammal has since become a major attraction because he regularly hangs out on the rocks near people.