A nighttime otter raid collapses the loon nest in one of the most costly moments of the New Hampshire LPC loon nesting season. Under the cover of darkness on May 24, 2026, a romp of river otters climbed onto the floating platform where the first egg of the clutch was already waiting.
The raid lasted less than 90 seconds, but it changed the nest immediately. The otters scrambled through the covered platform, disturbed the nesting material, and caused the structure to fold down before it sprang back into place.
The platform survived, but the first egg did not. A follow-up visit by LPC staff later confirmed the egg had cracked open, and it was removed from the nest.
Watch the moment the otters climbed into the loon nest and the platform collapsed in the dark.
The Otters Found the Nest Before the Loons Were Fully Guarding It
In the early morning darkness, the floating nest sat low on the water with the first egg already inside. Then the otters found it.
River otters often move with quick, playful-looking energy, but they are also powerful predators and opportunistic foragers. Around a loon nest, that combination can be dangerous. A platform with fresh nesting material and an egg can quickly become part of a shoreline search for food.
Watch Live <— loon nest cam
Once the otters climbed inside the nest shelter, the quiet platform became a burst of movement. The covered structure bent under the activity, folded down, and snapped back up after the otters moved through it. The moment was brief, but the damage was real.
LPC Staff Found the First Loon Egg Cracked Open
After the otter raid, LPC staff checked the nest and found the first egg cracked open. The egg was removed from the platform because it was no longer viable.
This was the first egg of the loon pair’s clutch, which made the timing especially difficult. At this early stage, the pair had not yet reached the full incubation period that usually begins after the second egg is laid.
Before both eggs are present, loons may not guard the nest as closely or consistently as they do once full incubation begins. That narrow window left the nest more exposed than it would likely be later in the nesting cycle.
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Why the Timing Made This Raid So Costly
The loss was not only about the cracked egg. It was also about when the raid happened.
The female had already laid the first egg, but the pair still awaited the second egg later that same day. That timing put the nest in one of the most vulnerable stretches of the season: important enough to hold a real nesting attempt, but not yet far enough along for both adults to settle into steady incubation.
In that short gap, the otters had enough time to climb onto the platform, collapse the structure, and damage the egg before the nest could move into the stronger rhythm of full incubation.
The Loon Pair May Still Have a Chance This Season
The loon pair may still have a chance if the second egg arrives and remains safe. They expected the second egg later that same day, which could allow them to continue the nesting attempt.
Common loons typically lay two eggs. Full incubation usually begins once the second egg is present, and that is when the adults become more committed to staying close to the nest. If the pair moves into that next stage successfully, the platform may still serve its purpose despite its damaged shape.
For now, the loon pair has lost the first egg, the otter raid left its mark on the nest, and the next chapter depends on whether the second egg arrives safely.
This live cam is provided by the loon preservation committee.
FAQ About the Nighttime Otter Raid at the Loon Nest
What happened at the LPC loon nest?
A romp of river otters climbed onto the LPC loon nest during the early morning darkness on May 24, 2026. Their activity caused the nest structure to collapse briefly before it sprang back up.
Did the nighttime otter raid damage the loon egg?
Yes. LPC staff later found the first egg cracked open. Because it was no longer viable, the egg was removed from the nest.
Why did the otters go onto the loon nest?
River otters are opportunistic foragers and predators. A floating loon nest with nesting material and an egg can attract their attention, especially before the loons begin guarding the nest consistently.
Did the loon nest platform survive?
Yes, the platform survived, but the otter raid left it misshapen. The structure collapsed during the raid and then sprang back into place.
Can the loon pair still nest this season?
Revised without passive voice:
Possibly. The otter raid destroyed the first egg, but the loon pair still had a second egg expected later the same day. If the female lays the second egg and it remains safe, the pair may still continue nesting.
When do common loons usually begin full incubation?
Common loons usually begin full incubation after the second egg is laid. That is when the adults typically spend more consistent time on and around the nest.
