Rare River Otters Spotted in Texas Hill Country

A Texas real estate agent captures video of a group of otters swimming in a private lake west of Waco.

Published on Feb. 1, 2026

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While filming a property listing in the Texas Hill Country just west of Waco, a real estate agent named Josh Smith spotted a rare sight - a group of four North American river otters swimming and playing in a private, spring-fed lake on the 843-acre ranch. Smith, who frequently posts wildlife sightings from ranches across the state, shared the video on Instagram where it quickly gained nearly 1 million views as commenters shared their own otter encounters.

Why it matters

River otters were once common across much of Texas but largely disappeared due to habitat loss, water pollution, and trapping. While they are now found primarily in the eastern half of the state, sightings have become more common in parts of Central Texas as water quality has improved. The presence of otters is a sign of a healthy ecosystem, and their return contributes to greater wildlife diversity in the region.

The details

Josh Smith, co-founder of Texas Land, was visiting an 843-acre property he recently listed for sale when he noticed movement in a private, 13-acre spring-fed lake on the ranch. At first he thought he was seeing a nutria, an invasive species, but upon closer inspection realized he was watching a group of four river otters swimming and seemingly playing together in the clear, pristine water. Smith has encountered otters before on properties in East and Northeast Texas, but spotting them in the Hill Country remains unusual.

  • On February 1, 2026, Josh Smith was filming a property listing in the Texas Hill Country just west of Waco.

The players

Josh Smith

A Texas real estate agent and co-founder of Texas Land who frequently posts wildlife sightings from ranches across the state.

North American River Otters

Predatory mammals that were once common across much of Texas but largely disappeared due to habitat loss, water pollution, and trapping. Their return to parts of Central Texas is a sign of improved water quality and a healthier ecosystem.

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What they’re saying

“The habitat on the lake is incredible, clear and pristine water that comes right out of the ground on the property.”

— Josh Smith, Co-founder, Texas Land (chron.com)

“Otters prefer good water and are a sign of a healthy ecosystem.”

— Josh Smith, Co-founder, Texas Land (chron.com)

“I was excited when I saw it but even more so when I saw the other 3 swimming around with it. I watched them for about 10 minutes. At first, I thought they were hunting, but realized that they were actually just swimming around and seemed to be playing with each other.”

— Josh Smith, Co-founder, Texas Land (chron.com)

What’s next

Smith said he plans to continue monitoring the otter population on the ranch and share any additional sightings on his social media channels.

The takeaway

The return of river otters to parts of Central Texas is a positive sign for the region's ecosystem, as their presence indicates improved water quality and a healthier natural environment. While their sightings remain relatively rare in the Hill Country, their numbers appear to be increasing as the state's rivers and lakes recover from past environmental degradation.