In the size of a dime, a river otter has 58,000 hairs!

River otters have a layer of air that acts like a bubble surrounding their body which keeps their skin from getting wet.

River otters rely on their coat to keep them warm in the winter.

Let’s talk. River otters are very “talkative”. They have 11 different vocalizations.

Young river otters must be taught how to swim.

Otters have their own goggles. A clear eyelid closes when they go underwater.

North American River Otter

Lontra canadensis

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

The North American river otter has a streamlined, muscular body with short legs, webbed toes, and a long muscular tail. It has a round, small head and long whiskers. Its body length is generally between 36 and 42 inches with a tail from 12 to 18 inches in length. Otters weigh between 20 and 31 pounds. Their fur is glossy and dark brown, and their throat is often silver gray. Male otters are usually larger than females.

HABITAT

This otter is found just about anywhere there’s water in North America, living in coastal areas and waterways from Alaska to Mexico, California to Maine, in lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal shorelines, marshes and estuaries.

DIET IN THE WILD

Like its cousin the weasel, the North American river otter is a highly active carnivore and hunts mainly fish. It will also eat frogs, crustaceans, insects and, at times, small mammals.

BEHAVIOR

Otters are playful and they will chase, slide, swim, jump and wrestle with one another. They are territorial and mark off their boundaries with urine and musk. They live in dens, constructed on their own in river banks or under logs. They will often take over hollows left by muskrats or other mammals. An entrance either under water or above ground leads to the nest made of leaves, grass, moss, bark and hair.

STATUS IN THE WILD / CONSERVATION EFFORTS

It is on a number of state wild animal preservation lists as threatened or endangered. The otter is extensively hunted for its valuable fur. It is preyed upon by bobcats, coyotes, birds of prey, alligators and other larger predators.

LIFE SPAN

Otters are known to live up to 20 years in captivity. In the wild they can live up to 8-9 years, however the majority only live between 3-5 years.