River Otter
The river otter (Lutra canadensis) is a member of the Mustelidae or weasel family. River otter abundance is directly dependent on habitat quality and availability.
River otter are thickly furred and their body is torpedo shaped. Their fur is usually dark brown but may range from almost black to reddish. The belly is usually silvery or grayish brown and their throat and cheeks are silvery to yellowish brown. Otters range in size from three to almost five feet long from nose to tip of tail. They may weigh from 15-30 pounds. Its tail makes up almost 1/3 of the length of the otter. The hind feet of the otter are webbed and like the beaver, the ears and nose have valves that close when the otter submerges to make the otter watertight. The otter can stay submerged for up to 4 minutes and dive to depths of 60 feet. It can swim at an average speed of 6-7 miles per hour and run up to 15-18 miles per hour.
River otter are most active early evening through early morning and occupy a wide variety of habitat types. These include lakes, ponds, marshes, rivers, and streams. River otter primarily use waterways as travel paths, but do cross-land between rivers or streams or ponds and often have well worn paths, which are regularly used by otters for years. Otter use scent posts along these paths and waterways to mark territories and communicate with other otter in the area. Chirps, chuckles, grunts, whistles, and screams are also used by otter for communication.
River otters are carnivores and eat a wide variety of prey items depending upon location and the time of year. Common items eaten by otters include various crustaceans, amphibians, reptiles, birds, insects, muskrats, and fish. The most common prey item for otter is fish. River otter use their whiskers and keen sense of touch to find and catch prey with their mouth. They hunt by diving and chasing fish or digging in the bottom of ponds and streams.
River otter are an important indicator species as to the quality of habitats where they are found. This is because the otter is a strict carnivore and contaminants that occur in the environment may concentrate in the otter over time in a process known as biomagnification.
The river otter (Lutra canadensis) is a member of the Mustelidae or weasel family. River otter abundance is directly dependent on habitat quality and availability.
River otter are thickly furred and their body is torpedo shaped. Their fur is usually dark brown but may range from almost black to reddish. The belly is usually silvery or grayish brown and their throat and cheeks are silvery to yellowish brown. Otters range in size from three to almost five feet long from nose to tip of tail. They may weigh from 15-30 pounds. Its tail makes up almost 1/3 of the length of the otter. The hind feet of the otter are webbed and like the beaver, the ears and nose have valves that close when the otter submerges to make the otter watertight. The otter can stay submerged for up to 4 minutes and dive to depths of 60 feet. It can swim at an average speed of 6-7 miles per hour and run up to 15-18 miles per hour.
River otter are most active early evening through early morning and occupy a wide variety of habitat types. These include lakes, ponds, marshes, rivers, and streams. River otter primarily use waterways as travel paths, but do cross-land between rivers or streams or ponds and often have well worn paths, which are regularly used by otters for years. Otter use scent posts along these paths and waterways to mark territories and communicate with other otter in the area. Chirps, chuckles, grunts, whistles, and screams are also used by otter for communication.
River otters are carnivores and eat a wide variety of prey items depending upon location and the time of year. Common items eaten by otters include various crustaceans, amphibians, reptiles, birds, insects, muskrats, and fish. The most common prey item for otter is fish. River otter use their whiskers and keen sense of touch to find and catch prey with their mouth. They hunt by diving and chasing fish or digging in the bottom of ponds and streams.
River otter are an important indicator species as to the quality of habitats where they are found. This is because the otter is a strict carnivore and contaminants that occur in the environment may concentrate in the otter over time in a process known as biomagnification.