About the River Otter Journal
The River Otter Journal was the news publication of the River Otter Alliance (ROA) from 1991 to 2013. ROA was founded as a non-profit tax-exempt organization in June 1991 by Carol S Peterson, John Mulvihill Esq., and biologists Leslie Malville and Joe Powell “to promote the survival of the North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis) through education, research, reintroduction and habitat protection”. The goals were to support current research and reintroduction programs, monitor abundance and distribution in the United States and educate the general public through our newsletter, The River Otter Journal which focused on topics
primarily related to the North American River Otter, however, included information on all thirteen species of otters. Our goal was to be a center of communications among wildlife biologists, environmental organizations, fishermen, and all interested parties on a national and international basis in order to ensure the healthy future of the river otter. The membership included persons throughout the world from a broad range of vocations,
research scientists, biologists, wildlife officials, rehabilitators, and “otter enthusiasts’ of all ages. All membership funds and donations were used to produce and distribute the newsletter, provide educational materials and for research grants. Under the leadership of Tracy Johnston, the ROA sponsored twenty-one grants for research projects from 2004-2014 with funds from members and generous donations such as the Rocky Mountain Ark, rehabilitation center’s donation for $ 5,000.
All work for the ROA was on a volunteer basis. Our first newsletter was published in fall 1991 with a stated goal to promote the recovery and survival of this unique animal through research and education. The Journals continued to be published for 22 years thanks to the extraordinary dedication of David and Judy Berg (1993-1996) and Tracy Johnston (1996-2006), Diane Tomacek (2007-2011), and Jennifer Bohrman (2012-2013).
Board members included Carol S. Peterson, John Mulvihill Esq., Leslie Malville-Ellwood, Joe Powell, (founders) Charles Lehman, David and Judy Berg, Tracy Johnston, Jan Reed-Smith, the late Glenn Chambers, Honorary Sc.D., Diane Tomecek and Jennifer Borman. Judy and David Berg joined the board in 1994, Tracy Johnston in 1995 and along with Carol Peterson and John Mulvihill remained dedicated through 2013 when the ROA board decided on dissolution of the organization.
Scientific advisors and contributors were Paul Polechla Ph.D., Joseph Davis, Joseph Hall, Pat Foster-Turley, J. Scott Shannon, Curt Mack, Thomas L. Serfass Ph.D., Eric Peterson (photographer), Bob Landis (photographer), Merav Ben-David Ph.D., Jamie Crait, Jo Thompson Ph.D., the late Lissa Margetts, and Jennifer Bohrman.
Thanks to all the contributors to the 31 journals and to the survival of the river otter. The ROA board is grateful to Robert Fetterman for hosting the River Otter Journal on his personal website.
This historical archive of the River Otter Journal has been set up by agreement with the board of the ROA by Victor Camp and Tom Serfass, under the aegis of the IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group, and is hosted by the Bulletin of the IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group
