"Sea" otter?

Yesterday beachgoers at Amelia Island Plantation saw this ball of fur on the beach. Someone's fur coat??

Nope, this river otter! We'd gotten a report of him, but just had to check it out ourselves, as otters are not usually found on the beach. Sure enough, as soon as I approached the furball...up pops his head...and his teeth for that matter. Taking the hint, I backed away, but then he just curled back up to sleep! It had no injury, so the best we can imagine he'd gotten a little sidetracked while looking for food and ventured a little too far away from his normal stomping grounds, which is ponds, rivers, or the marsh. After getting worn out trying to swim in the surf, who wouldn't stop to take a nap?

A few hours later we checked on him again and he was gone, hopefully on his way back home!