I have seen them early in the morning, first light, and then at dusk, during the summer months...leading the youngsters out for the day or back "home"...they bark like a lap dog half asleep...one bark at time. They are, from my experience, shy but very inquisitive; so I have had success "squeaking" at them like a injured rabbit to stop them and get them to bob up and down in the water. Another thing that I noticed about the otter is they seem to have very good eye sight and cue in on any movement. Moving water in the winter would be a fine spot to sit and wait for a gander ;)